Sept. 11--The latest developments since several countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, cut ties with Qatar on June 5. (All times local Doha time).

11 September 2017

4:27pm -- UAE sheikh seeks to sell Qatar tower

*

A company owned by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family is seeking to sell Dolphin Tower in Doha, the Qatari headquarters of natural gas supplier Dolphin Energy, sources told Reuters news agency.

*

Al Ain Properties, owned through an investment vehicle by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi Ruler's Representative in the Western Region of the emirate, has within the past two months appointed real estate firm DTZ Qatar to market the 25-storey building, two of the sources said.

*

Nobody was immediately available to comment from Al Ain Holding, the parent company of Al Ain Properties, or DTZ Qatar.

4:00pm -- Qatar's emir visits US military base

*

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Doha's Al Udeid air base -- the largest US base in the Middle East on Monday.

The Combined Air Operations Center for the US Central Command, or CENTCOM, coordinates military strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in both Iraq and Syria.

*

Al Udeid is home to more than 10,000 US personel.

1:00pm -- Qatar foreign minister reconfirms willingness for talks

* Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Sunday that the the GCC crisis will only be solved through dialogue and that despite challenges and allegations, Qatar is willing to talk.

* He also emphasised that the three-month blockade on Qatar is violating its civil, social and economic rights. "The international community must show responsibility as people are paying the price for these political rifts," Abdulrahman Al Thani said.

* Denying all allegations against Qatar, Al Thani said the four blockading countries have tried to hide facts and fabricated allegations of Qatar supporting terrorism. He said the only motivation behind the siege was not fighting terrorism but rather interfere in the country's foreign policy and undermine its sovereignty.

7:00am -- Saudi Arabia 'arrests' prominent cleric

* A prominent Saudi religious leader, Sheikh Salman al Ouda, has been arrested, according to social media postings on Sunday, but not confirmed by Saudi officials.

* In one of his last Twitter posts, he welcomed a report on Friday suggesting that a three-month-old row between Qatar and four Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia may be resolved.

* "May God harmonise between their hearts for the good of their people," Ouda said on Twitter after a report of a telephone call between Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss ways to resolve the rift which began in June.

*

Ouda, an influential cleric who was imprisoned from 1994-99 for agitating for political change and has 14 million followers on Twitter, appears to have been detained over the weekend, the posting suggested.

10 September 2017

7:30pm -- NYT debunks fake ISIL statement

* The New York Times on Sunday debunked information spread by official Saudi media outlets a day earlier claiming Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) expressed support for Qatar in the Gulf crisis .

* The US publication said the ISIL statement aiming to link Qatar to terrorism was "apparently fake".

* Marwan Kabalan, director of policy analysis at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera by spreading false news Saudi Arabia may be diverting attention from a story in the US media about the Saudi embassy's possible links to the September 11, 2001 attacks.

2:08pm -- Russia's Lavrov urges direct talks

* Arab countries involved in a diplomatic dispute with Qatar should enter into direct talks with Doha to solve the crisis, Russia's foreign minister said on a trip to Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

* Speaking through an interpreter at a news conference, Sergei Lavrov also called for the unity of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

* Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told the news conference that Qatar needed to show seriousness in finding a solution to the crisis.

10:55am -- Russian foreign minister in Saudi Arabia

* Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, is in Saudi Arabia meeting with his Saudi counterpart, Adel al-Jubeir and other officials.

* Lavrov is also expected to visit Jordan

9 September 2017

10pm -- Qatar's PM discusses Gulf crisis with Japanese FM

*

The prime minister of Qatar, Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, has held a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in the Qatari capital of Doha.

*

The two leaders discussed the developments in the region, including the ongoing Gulf diplomatic crisis between Qatar and a group of four Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

*

Another issue on the agenda was was of boosting ties between Qatar and Japan.

3:20am -- Saudi 'suspends plans' to hold Qatar talks

*

Saudi Arabia's state news agency says that plans to hold talks with Qatar have been suspended, shortly after the emergence of reports that the Qatari emir and the Saudi crown prince spoke over phone to discuss a major diplomatic crisis in the Gulf.

*

The call on Friday between by the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- reported by state media from both countries -- is believed to be the first official contact between Doha and Riyadh since the beginning of the crisis more than three months ago.

*

However, there seems to be a dispute over protocol -- apparently, over how Qatar News Agency (QNA) did not menton in its report that it was Doha that had initiated the call.

2:30am -- Qatari emir speaks to Saudi crown prince over Gulf row

*

The emir of Qatar and Saudi Arabia's crown prince have held a phone conversation to discuss a major diplomatic crisis in the Gulf, according to state media from both countries.

*

The call on Friday between by the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, is believed to be the first official contact between the two countries since the beginning of the crisis more than three months ago.

*

The call was held on the basis of coordination with US President Donald Trump, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported in the early hours of Saturday.

*

In the phone discussion, the two leaders "stressed the need to resolve this crisis" through dialogue "to ensure the unity and stability" of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said QNA.

*

The Qatari emir welcomed a proposal by the Saudi crown prince to assign two envoys to resolve the dispute in a way that respects the sovereignty of states, QNA added.

8 September 2017

4pm -- Emir of Qatar, Trump in phone discussion over GCC crisis

*

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump to discuss the latest developments in the Gulf crisis, in the wake of a visit by Kuwait's emir to the White House.

*

Kuwait has been acting a mediator in the dispute, now in its fourth month.

*

During Thursday's phone call, the emir of Qatar welcomed Trump's position on the need to resolve this crisis through dialogue to ensure the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to Qatar's state media. He also expressed Doha's position on resolving "differences through constructive dialogue that does not affect the sovereignty of states", Qatar News Agency reported.

*

A statement published by the White House on Friday said that Trump "underscored the importance of all countries following through on commitments from the Riyadh Summit to maintain unity while defeating terrorism, cutting off funding for terrorist groups, and combatting extremist ideology".

3am -- War 'stopped' between Qatar, blockading Arab nations

* The emir of Kuwait says the threat of war between Qatar and Arab nations blockading it for the past three months has been neutralised.

* Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al Sabah, the main mediator in the Gulf dispute, spoke in Washington, DC on Thursday at a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump.

* While both sides in the dispute have ruled out the use of armed force, some ordinary Qataris say they worry about the possibility of military action, given the ferocity of the criticism their country has received from media in the four Arab states.

* "What is important is that we have stopped any military action," Sheikh Sabah said.

7 September 2017

11:10pm -- Donald Trump calls for 'united GCC', offers to mediate

*

US President Donald Trump has offered to mediate in the three-month diplomatic dispute between Qatar and its neighbours, saying "we will be most successful [against terrorism] with a united" Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

*

Speaking at a joint news conference with Kuwait's emir in Washington, DC, on Thursday, Trump said he supported Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al Sabah's mediation efforts but if that did not manage to resolve the Gulf crisis, he would be "willing to be a mediator".

"We call on our GCC and Egyptian allies to focus on our commitments at that Saudi Arabia summit to continue our joint efforts to drive out and defeat terrorists.

*

"Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt are all essential US partners in this effort. We have great relationships with all of them right now, maybe better than we've ever had.

*

"We will be most successful with a united GCC."

4:20pm -- Call for ban on UK MP over anti-Qatar conference

*

Concerns are being raised with the UK's Foreign Affairs Committee over the participation of a British member of parliament at an anti-Qatar conference.

*

Daniel Kawczynski is expected to take part in the event in London next week, which is being sponsored by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

*

In a letter to the committee, the non-governmental organisation, 'The London Centre for Public Affairs', has called for Kawczynski to be banned from any nominations to the foreign policy body.

8:00am -- Kuwaiti emir to hold talks with President Trump

*

The emir of Kuwait is flying to the US to hold talks with President Donald Trump on the three-month-old diplomatic crisis in the Arabian Gulf.

*

Kuwait has been acting as the mediator following a political and economic blockade on Qatar by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt.

6 September 2017

10:50pm -- Qatar waives visa requirement for Moroccans

*

Morocco has been added to a list of countries whose citizens no longer need visas to enter Qatar, official Moroccan media said.

*

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, who met a Moroccan delegation in Doha on Tuesday, announced that his country "had removed the obligation for Moroccan citizens to obtain a visa", Morocco's official MAP news agency said.

*

In early August, Qatar introduced a visa-free entry programme for 80 nationalities to stimulate air transport and tourism.

* Qatar's central bank said it sold 1 billion Qatari riyals ($274.7 million) worth of treasury bills in a monthly auction on Wednesday, with yields higher than in its previous offer.

* The bank sold 650 million Qatari riyals of three-month notes with a yield of 2.25 percent, higher than the 2.14 percent yield at which the bank sold 750 million riyals one month ago in a sign that the blockade against Qatar continues to exert pressure on liquidity in the Qatari money market.

* It sold 350 million Qatari riyals worth of treasury bills with a six-month maturity and a yield of 2.49 percent, it said on its website.

5 September 2017

9:45pm -- Qatar taps Pakistan market amid Gulf blockade

* A Qatari shipping company is set to launch what it calls the fastest direct service between Doha and the Pakistani port city of Karachi this week, as the Gulf state seeks to establish new trade routes amid a land, air and sea blockade from its Arab neighbours.

* Maritime conglomerate Milaha is overseeing the venture, with the first vessel due to arrive at the newly inaugurated Hamad Port outside the Qatari capital on September 11 following a transit time of four days -- compared to a normally six-to-seven-day journey.

* "We have been vigorously ramping up our operations between Qatar and key Asian markets in response to growing demand from traders, importers, and exporters on both sides," said Abdulrahman Essa Al-Mannai, Milaha president and chief executive officer.

9:00pm -- 'So be it' if rift with Qatar continues for years: Saudi FM

* Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in London that if the rift with Qatar continued for two years then "so be it".

* He also lashed out at Iran, which has supported Qatar in the ongoing crisis, saying Tehran's talk of a possible rapprochement with the kingdom was "laughable".

* "If Iran wants to have good relations with Saudi Arabia, it has to change its policies. It has to respect international law. At this time, we do not see... that they're serious about wanting to be a good neighbour," said Jubeir.

3:00pm -- France appoints envoy to mediate

* France's foreign ministry said that it picked its former ambassador to Saudi Arabia as a special envoy to see how Paris could support mediation efforts in the rift between Qatar and its neighbours.

* France, which has close ties with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates while also being a major arms supplier to Qatar and a key ally of Saudi Arabia, has been relatively discreet on the crisis, largely sticking to calls for calm.

* "I confirm that Bertrand Besancenot, diplomatic advisor to the government, will soon go to the region to evaluate the situation and the best ways to support the mediation and appease tensions between Qatar and its neighbours," Foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes Romatet-Espagne told reporters in a daily briefing.

12:00pm -- Qatar unveils new trading port

* Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has opened the new Hamad Port ahead of schedule as part of a wider plan to achieve food security and economic diversification in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.

*

The inaguration of the new port means larger container ships can go directly to Doha rather than docking in the United Arab Emirates, where cargo was transferred to smaller vessels.

*

The UAE is one of the countries that have imposed a land, air and sea blockade on Qatar.

* The port, which is playing a vital role in offsetting the impact of the blockade imposed on Qatar since June 5, will provide Qatar with complete independence in its import and export of goods.

4 September 2017

7:45pm -- Qatar launches direct shipping lines

*

Qatar Ports Management Company, Mwani, has expanded its maritime network by launching several direct shipping lines between Hamad Port and a number of ports in the region.

*

The new routes connect Qatar to Sohar and Salalah ports in Oman, Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait, Karachi port in Pakistan, Izmir port in Turkey and Mundra and Nava Shiva ports in India.

3 September 2017

11:15pm -- Despite GCC crisis, Gulf tourists flock to rural Turkey

* The dispute seems to have had little effect on the eastern Black Sea's now-booming tourism industry. In July, eight cities in Saudi Arabia launched direct flights to Trabzon, the regional hub, to meet demand from Saudi tourists. The UAE and Kuwait also offer direct flights, bypassing the need for tourists to travel through airports in Istanbul.

* In the first five months of this year, more than 22,000 Arab tourists visited Uzungol, a village with a permanent residential population of fewer than 2,000 people, according to the Trabzon Chamber of Commerce. More than 70 hotels and apartments catering to a range of budgets have sprung up in the village in less than a decade.

2 September 2017

10:00pm -- 'Ball in Qatar's court', says Saudi prince

* Qatar could end a political standoff with a Saudi-led group of nations if it stops interfering in the internal affairs of neighbouring countries, Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal says.

* "The ball is in Qatar's court and they have to perform on that," the former head of Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency said in an interview with Bloomberg TV from the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, Italy on Friday.

1 September 2017

05:40pm -- Qatari FM meets Belgian counterpart in Brussels

*

The foreign ministers of Qatar and Belgium have held talks in the Belgian capital of Brussels about the fight against armed groups and the Gulf's diplomatic crisis.

*

"We are very open to help ... organise a possible dialogue in the region," Didier Reynders, Belgian foreign minister, said.

*

For his part, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's foreign minister, said that despite Kuwait's mediation efforts, blockading nations have not responded "since the crisis started 90 days ago.

*

"There is nothing being provided, neither to Washington nor to Kuwait until now to show any legitimate grievances for all the measures they have taken."

31 August 2017

09:05pm -- Kuwaiti emir to meet Trump as Gulf crisis continues

*

The emir of Kuwait will hold talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, next week, according to the Kuwaiti state media, as a three-month-old diplomatic crisis splits the Gulf.

*

"They are claiming that Qatar is interfering in their internal politics, there is no any thing against Qatar. Qatar never accepts to interfere to any country's politics, and doesn't accept others to interfere in our politics," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdelrahman Al Thani after a meeting with members of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

06:50pm -- Qatari FM: We don't accept interference in our politics

*

Qatar's foreign minister has called on the Gulf countries that have cut ties with it to stop attempting to influence his country's foreign policy.

Al Thani also said Qatar has been the most developed country in the Gulf region for 20 years. It is home to many foreign universities, the religious landscape is varied and everyone practices religion freely.

*

"Qatar has evolved in its own way and the siege we have been facing is an incentive for us to move forward towards development policy".

00:35am -- Trump speaks to Saudi King, urges end to Gulf row

*

US President Donald Trump has held a phone conversation with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and called for a diplomatic resolution to the Gulf crisis, the White House said in a statement.

*

"The president urged that all parties to the Qatar dispute find a diplomatic resolution that follows through on their commitments made at the Riyadh summit, to maintain unity while fighting terrorism," the statement said.

30 August 2017

06:05pm -- IMF says Qatar's response to blockade is effective

*

Qatar has acted effectively in protecting its economy against the blockade imposed by other Arab countries, an International Monetary Fund official said on Wednesday after a week-long visit to Doha.

*

"The impact on banks' balance sheets was mitigated by liquidity injections by the Qatar central bank and increased public sector deposits," Mohammed El Qorchi said in a statement.

*

"These reactions reflected effective coordination and collaboration among key government agencies," he said, adding that authorities acted quickly to reroute trade and establish new sources of food supply.

5:30pm -- Russia calls for dialogue to resolve Gulf crisis

*

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed Moscow's support for Kuwait's mediation efforts to defuse a three-month long diplomatic crisis in the Gulf.

*

"We welcome all initiatives to resolve the Gulf crisis, and we support the Kuwaiti efforts in that direction," Lavrov said during a joint press conference with his Qatari counterpart.

*

Ibrahim Fraihat, a Qatar-based analyst, said Russia was backing the Kuwaiti initiative in a bid to fill a regional vacuum created by the US' lack of clear policy in helping to end the dispute.

"Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that his government has called for dialogue with the blockading countries on at least 12 different occasions, whereas the blockading countries are yet to respond to a single request, the most important one coming from the emir of Kuwait, who is trying to mediate in the crisis.

*

"Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have yet to respond either positively or negatively to that request. Sheikh Mohammed said this indicated the lack of cooperation and their insistence to not find a solution to the crisis, and in fact make it drag on as long as possible."

29 August 2017

11:55pm -- Asia Pacific Forum backs Qatar's NHRC

*

The Asia Pacific Forum (APF), a coalition of 24 national human rights institutions from across the region has expressed its solidarity with Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) following a complaint submitted in Geneva.

*

Saudi Arabia and its allies, who have cut ties with Qatar and imposed a land, sea and air embargo against it, filed the complaint earlier in August in a bid to have the committee stripped of its "A" rating in the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) list. GANHRI has rejected the request.

*

The APF congratulated the NHRC for carrying out its work in a professional manner throughout the crisis and stressed that it was always ready to support it.

*

In its statement, the APF also expressed concern regarding the damages caused by the blockade to thousands of people who have mixed-citizenship families in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE.

12:15pm -- Qatar central bank says banking sector is strong

*

Qatari banks are capable of withstanding the pressure of the blockade imposed by other Arab states, the governor of Qatar's central bank has said after Fitch Ratings lowered the Gulf state's credit rating.

*

Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al Thani, in a statement on Tuesday, said routine stress tests show the banking sector is strong. Qatari banks are highly solvent, profitable and liquid, he said.

*

The central bank has taken extra measures in response to the blockade, and believes Fitch Ratings will change its decision in the very near future, the statement added.

* Fitch cut the country's credit rating by one notch to AA-minus with a negative outlook on Monday.

28 August 2017

7:30pm -- Qatar may cut capital spending because of blockade -- Fitch

*

Qatar may be forced to reduce its capital spending on economic projects and infrastructure if damage to its economy from the blockade intensifies, Fitch Ratings has said as it cut the country's credit rating by one notch to AA-minus with a negative outlook.

*

Fitch noted that even before the blockade, Qatar had shrunk its capital spending plans for 2014-2024 to $130bn from $180bn in response to low oil and gas prices.

*

"The government has prepared scenarios for further cuts to capital spending in case oil prices fall again or in case pressures from the embargo intensify," it said.

*

Fitch predicted the Qatari government's net foreign assets would fall to 146 percent of gross domestic product this year from 185 percent last year, as the government moves money into local banks to offset outflows due to the blockade.

3:30pm -- Russia's FM visiting Gulf Arab states over Qatar crisis

*

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is in Kuwait at the start of a three-nation tour of Gulf Arab states over the ongoing Qatar diplomatic crisis, where he will also visit Qatar and the UAE.

* Lavrov's visit to Kuwait City marks the first high-level diplomatic visit by Russia over the crisis.

27 August 2017

9:20pm -- UN chief visits Kuwait amid GCC crisis

*

Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general, has visited Kuwait as part of a tour of the Middle East.

*

In a meeting with Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the UN boss expressed his gratitude to Kuwait for playing the mediator role in the Gulf diplomatic crisis.

*

He said the UN fully supported its position and also praised the country's leadership for its humanitarian work.

3:15pm -- Hamad Port to officially open in September

*

The Ministry of Transport and Communication announced that Hamad Port will be officially inaugurated in the first week of September.

*

In a statement, the ministry said that Hamad Port will be the largest port in the Middle East and will span an area of 28.5 square kilometres.

Qatar's National Human Rights Commission issued a report showing that 2,400 Muslims in the country applied for permits to attend Hajj in Mecca but have been prevented from going because Saudi authorities failed to acknowledge Doha's formal request for their attendance.

*

"With the time for performing the fifth pillar of Islam approaching, these measures remained in a clear violation to the right of citizens of the State of Qatar and its Muslim residents who want to perform Al Hajj," Qatar News Agency quoted the NHRC report as saying.

The pair discussed recent developments and embraced new paths to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries.

2:30am -- No Hajj for Qataris this year amid Saudi row

*

For Muslim pilgrims in Qatar who hoped to perform one of the pillars of Islam, the annual Hajj that began this week is out of reach. This is because Saudi Arabia -- which overseas and manages Islam's two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina -- has made it impossible for them to go.

*

The Qatari Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, which regulates and organises the annual Hajj for Qatari citizens and residents, announced it hasn't received responses from its Saudi counterpart on travel logistics or security guarantees.

25 August 2017

6:00pm -- Grand Mosque imam condemns Muslim discord ahead of Hajj

* The imam of Mecca's Grand Mosque denounced those who "cause conflict among Muslims" in his last Friday sermon before the annual Hajj pilgrimage as rifts widen among Gulf neighbours.

* "Anyone who causes conflict and discord among Muslims ignores the blessing of harmony, imitates those who lived in ignorance [before Islam], harms his people and cheats his nation," Sheikh Saleh Mohammed al-Taleb told the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who have flocked to Mecca from around the world to perform the Hajj next week.

* Qatar's "soverign decision should not be shy or confused, but its arrogance and adolescent behaviour makes it so", Gargash tweeted. "It's justification is not convincing."

2:55pm -- Turkey arrests Qatar news agency hacking suspects

* Five suspected computer hackers have been arrested in Turkey in connection with an attack on the state Qatar News Agency (QNA) in April.

* QNA website was hackedand inflammatory comments attributed to Qatar's Emir were broadcast on news channels in the UAE and Saudi Arabia -- despite the Qatari government repeatedly rejecting the fake reports. The hacking preceded the blockade imposed on Qatar by Saudi, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.

* "Our friends in Turkey answered us a short time ago. Five people were arrested and they are being investigated. The prosecutors in Qatar are working with the Turkish authorities to follow this case," said Ali al-Marri, Qatar's general prosecutor.

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, discussed the "close relationship" between Qatar and the US during a visit to Doha on Monday, according to the state department.

*

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that "the parties discussed the importance of the peace effort to countering terrorists and extremists".

*

Kushner is leading a delegation to the Middle East on behalf of Trump. He also with other Gulf leaders.

24 August 2017

11pm -- Qatar links tit-for-tat Chad embassy closure to Gulf crisis

*

Qatar ordered the embassy of Chad be closed and gave its diplomats 72 hours to leave, the Qatari foreign ministry said on Thursday, accusing the African country of joining a "campaign of blackmail" with its decision to shutter the Qatari embassy.

*

Chad said on Wednesday it was giving Qatari diplomats 10 days to leave the country.

*

The director of the Qatari foreign ministry's media department said the timing of the Chadian decision shows that it "comes within the campaign of political blackmail against the State of Qatar with the intention of joining the siege countries for very well known reasons".

6:00pm -- Iran welcomes return of diplomatic ties with Qatar

* Iran has welcomed Qatar's decision to return its ambassador to Tehran as a "positive and logical" step.

* "Their ambassador had been recalled to Doha for certain consultations, and his return to Tehran is considered a logical and positive move and decision," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi, according to the state-run IRNA news.

12:00pm -- Qatar to return its ambassador to Iran

*

Qatar said on Wednesday its ambassador to Iran, who was withdrawn in January last year, would return to Iran.

*

"Qatar announced that its ambassador to Tehran will return to resume his diplomatic duties," the Qatari foreign ministry's information office said in a statement on its website, adding that Doha wanted to strengthen ties with the Islamic republic.

23 August 2017

10:55pm -- European monitor calls for pressure on Saudi Arabia over Hajj

*

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has urged Jan Figel, the European Union Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion outside the Union, to call on Saudi Arabia to lift the conditions it imposed for the arrival of pilgrims of Qatar to its territory to perform Hajj this year.

*

The Geneva-based Monitor, in a letter sent to Figel, called for an immediate intervention to end the crisis of pilgrims and to exert pressure for not using Hajj as a tool for political gain, and not to impose conditions on pilgrims.

8:40pm -- UN chief, Qatar FM hold phone conversation

*

Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has held a telephone conversation with Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations.

*

The Qatari diplomat briefed Guterres on the latest developments in the Gulf crisis and the measures taken by the Saudi-led group of countries against Doha.

*

The two leaders also discussed boosting cooperation in other areas.

22 August 2017

11:45pm -- Qatar fearful over treatment of Hajj pilgrims in Saudi

*

Qatar said it is worried Hajj pilgrims from the emirate face being badly treated if they travel to Saudi Arabia as the row over arrangements for the religious event intensified.

*

The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs said that considering the ongoing Gulf diplomatic impasse, it was concerned about the safety of pilgrims travelling from Doha in the next few days.

*

"Given the current situation, it (the ministry) remains concerned and fearful for Qatari pilgrims and a repeat of the harassment of Qatari citizens in June," read the statement.

*

Early in June, local media reports claimed Qataris were stopped from entering the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

*

The Hajj to Mecca, the most revered site in Islam, is a pilgrimage that Muslims must perform at least once in their lifetimes if they are able to do so.

2:25pm -- Dubai TV airs 'fake news' about rallies, curfew in Doha

* Dubai TV has aired a false report claiming anti-government demonstrations took place in Doha, Qatar, and alleged that troops -- including soldiers from Turkey -- sprayed tear gas at protesters.

* Qatar's government press office on Tuesday dismissed the report as "fake news" in a statement sent to Al Jazeera, a day after the broadcast which has now been circulated online.

5:30am -- Senegal restores its ambassador to Qatar

*

Senegal announced on Tuesday that it has reappointed its ambassador to Qatar who had been recalled on June 6 amid the Gulf crisis.

*

"Senegal has decided to send its ambassador to Doha back to Qatar," tweeted Ahmed bin Saeed Al Rumaihi, Director of the Information Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Senegal.

*

Qatar's official news agency QNA reported that the decision was made after a phone call between Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Senegal's President Macky Sall.

*

The two leaders also discussed boosting relations in various fields and the recent developments in the Middle East, particularly, the Gulf crisis.

21 August 2017

11:15pm -- Qatar slams Saudi Arabia's Hajj flight restrictions

*

A strongly worded statement from Doha's foreign ministry said it was surprised that Riyadh had decided to restrict the transport of Hajj pilgrims from Qatar only through Saudi Arabian Airlines. The hajj to Mecca, the most revered site in Islam, is a pilgrimage that Muslims must perform at least once.

*

"Limiting the transfer of Qatari pilgrims to Saudi Arabian Airlines only is unprecedented, illogical, surprising and contravenes the teachings of Islam," said the statement from the ministry's information office director, Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Rumaihi.

*

Earlier, Doha had denied a claim from Saudi Arabian Airlines accusing Qatari authorities of refusing to allow one of its flights to land at Hamad International Airport on Sunday.

An official source from Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has denied claims made by media outlets in the blockading nations that Qatar refused to allow Saudi Airlines to fly Qatari Hajj pilgrims.

*

The CAA received a request from Saudi Airlines in which they asked to carry Qatari pilgrims, and advised them to coordinate this request with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs through the Qatari Hajj Delegation, reported the Qatar News Agency.

*

The CAA stated their response was in accordance with procedures followed in the past.

* Saudi Arabia says its aircraft have not been given permission to land in Doha to pick up Qatari pilgrims for the annual Hajj, news agencies reported. A Qatari government spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

* Along with reopening its land border with Qatar, Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that King Salman had ordered the dispatch of a Saudi Arabia Airlines plane to fly Qatari pilgrims to Jeddah at his own expense so that they could go on to Mecca, Islam's holiest city.

* But the first flight has not been able to take off from Saudi Arabia because it had not yet received landing permission in Doha, said Saleh al-Jasser, the general director of the airline, according to Saudi state news agency SPA.

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) has rejected a request by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, and Egypt to get Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) downgraded, according to NHRC chairman Ali bin Samikh al-Marri.

*

Marri thanked GANHRI for supporting the work of the NHRC and urged civil society groups in the four countries to work with the committee to address the worsening humanitarian conditions imposed on GCC citizens due to the measures against Qatar.

* Earlier in August, the four countries, which have cut ties with Qatar and imposed a land, sea and air embargo against it, had submitted a complaint against NHRC to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in a bid to have the committee removed from the "A" rating of the GANHRI list.

*

On Monday, several international human rights groups sent a letter to the UNHCR, asking them to reject the four countries' request.

*

"As human rights organisations, we call upon your esteemed office to reject this complaint, we also hope that you will call on the four countries, through their permanent representatives at the UN headquarters in Geneva, to stop harassment on human rights defenders, and work to upgrade their national bodies, so as to work efficiently to defend the human and his rights, in accordance with international standards in this regard, and to unite to promote human rights in the region especially and in the world in general," said the letter.

3:50pm -- Saudi Twitter users urged to expose Qatar sympathisers

* Saudis have been told to expose the names and identities of anyone showing sympathy with Qatar on Twitter, with a senior Saudi official vowing to "follow" every name reported via the social media site.

* Anwar Gargash, the UAE's state minister for foreign affairs, was one of the first to express support for the blacklist, tweeting: "Saud al-Qahtani is an important voice ... and his tweet on the 'blacklist' is extremely important."

* The UAE has banned all expression of sympathy with Qatar, making it a criminal offence punishable with up to 15 years in prison.

* "The four siege countries have not responded up to now," said Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

* "Rather, we have seen continuing escalation and attempt to market the accusation that Qatar supports terrorism without providing any evidence, until they reached a stage of despair to buy a few seconds in the Western channels to publish their advertisements. Unfortunately, this is their constant behaviour since the beginning of the crisis."

11:30am -- Qatar balks at calls to end military ties to Turkey

* Qatar's ambassador to Ankara said calls by a Saudi-led block for Doha to cut defence ties with Turkey is an "obvious intervention of internal affairs".

* "This is against all international law and norms," said Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi in a written statement on Saturday about the demand to close a Turkish base in the country.

* "The closure of this base and demanding that our defence relations with Turkey be interrupted would be an obvious intervention of our internal affairs, infringement of our sovereignty rights, and the assumption of tutelage over us."

Qatar has filed a complaint before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), against what it calls attempts to "terrorise" travellers who are flying on its national flag carrier.

*

In a letter sent to the Montreal-based United Nations agency on Saturday, Doha said the Saudi-led group that has imposed a blockade on Qatar has violated international law by broadcasting a news report showing the shooting down of a Qatar Airways passenger aircraft.

19 August 2017

7:30pm -- UAE envoy berates Saudi leadership in leaked emails

*

The United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States, Yousef al-Otaiba, berated Saudi Arabia's leadership, a series of emails leaked by a computer hacking group "Global Leaks" reveal.

*

In a 2008 email chain with his wife Abeer Shoukry, published by the Middle East Eye news website on Friday, Otaiba described the kingdom's leaders as "f****ing coo coo".

*

The correspondence also makes a case for Mohammed bin Salman over his cousin and former crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef.

18 August 2017

Show more

6:15pm -- Qatar concerned about safety of citizens in Saudi Arabia during Hajj

*

Qatar expressed concern about the safety of its citizens in Saudi Arabia following the reopening of the countries' border enabling Qataris to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.

*

"The level of tension between the two nations, the language and the tone of the Saudi media spreading hatred against Qatari people represents a great concern for us," Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during a visit to Norway.

*

"Those people crossing the border right now are under the responsibility of the Saudi authorities for their security and safety," Sheikh Mohammed said, adding that "more than 100" citizens had crossed since Thursday.

3:00pm -- Preparations for 2022 World Cup in Qatar 'unaffected by blockade'

* The head of the committee responsible for the 2022 football World Cup in Qatar says the Gulf crisis has had little impact on preparations.

*

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Hassan Al Thawadi said various construction projects, including eight stadiums and a $35bn metro and rail system, are "on schedule".

* "No doubt that the blockade has caused an inconvenience," Thawadi said, noting that Qatar could not work with some GCC companies that were contracted as suppliers or service providers. "We have very quickly moved onto Plan B, found alternative sources of supply -- alternative routes of supply as well."

12:30pm -- Qatar enlists US firm to combat terror financing

* Qatar's anti-money laundering agency has enlisted an advisory firm run by former US treasury department officials to boost the country's fight against "terrorism financing".

*

Qatar's National Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Committee (NALMC) is partnering with Washington based Financial Integrity Network (FIN), headed by Daniel Glaser, who served as the Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes from 2011-2017.

* Sheikh Fahad Faisal Al Thani, the chairman of NAMLC, said on Thursday that Qatar was "strongly committed to combating illicit financing activities" and that the partnership with FIN will "ensure that Qatar builds on its successes to date in preventing and disrupting these illegal activities".

* Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Saudi Arabia is yet to clarify details of how it will receive Qatari pilgrims and steps it will take to assure their safety.

*

Speaking in Stockholm on Thursday, Sheikh Mohammed welcomed Saudi Arabia's decision to reopen the two countries' border to Qatari pilgrims as a positive step towards ending the siege on Doha.

*

The Qatari government will communicate with Saudi Arabia on the safety of the Qatari Hajj mission, he said, and urged Saudi Arabia not to politicize the Hajj pilgrimage.

*

"We hope that these steps will continue, as well as not involving human matters in the political dispute re-uniting the mixed families," he added.

17 August 2017

11:05pm -- Qatari pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia

* Qatari pilgrims began arriving in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Saudi media reported, after Riyadh said it was opening up its border and airports for those attending the annual hajj pilgrimage despite a diplomatic rift that cut travel ties between the two neighbours.

Qatar welcomed Saudi Arabia's decision to reopen the two countries' border to Qatari pilgrims, while lashing out at Riyadh's "politicisation" of religious freedoms.

*

"Regardless of the manner in which Qataris were banned from the pilgrimage, which was politicised, and the manner in which they were again permitted to make the pilgrimage, which was also politicised ... the government of Qatar welcomes the decision and will respond positively," Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at press conference on Thursday with his Swedish counterpart in Stockholm.

1:00am -- Saudi Arabia to allow Qatari pilgrims to perform Hajj

*

Saudi Arabia news sites have reported that King Salman has ordered measures to allow Qatari pilgrims in to perform Hajj in Mecca

*

The King has reportedly ordered that Saudi aircraft be sent to Doha to accommodate Qatari pilgrims at his own expense, in addition to opening up the land border

16 August 2017

2:30pm -- Qatar sovereign fund not planning asset sales, CEO says

*

The Qatar Investment Authority does not plan to liquidate its assets around the world and will soon announce major new international investments, the sovereign wealth fund's chief executive told local media on Wednesday.

*

"We have just completed a tour of several countries around the world and you will hear about significant investments soon," Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud Al-Thani was quoted as saying by the Lusail newspaper. He did not give details of the new investments.

9:30am -- Qatar's economy remains strong, say experts

* Qatar's economy is strong enough to weather the GCC crisis, according to experts interviewed by the AFP news agency.

* "In the medium- to long-term, perhaps people who live here will feel" the effects, but for the time being, "we haven't felt any big difference", said Mohamed Ammar, who heads the Qatari Businessmen Association.

* Analysts have faith in the capacity of Qatar, holder of the world's third-largest natural gas reserves after giants Russia and Iran, to withstand a long crisis.

* "Qatar is the most resilient country in the Middle East by far," said Andreas Krieg, a strategic risk analyst and assistant professor at King's College London university.

15 August 2017

8:15pm -- Qatar FM: Lot of time needed to rebuild trust in Gulf

*

Qatar's foreign minister said on Tuesday it will take a "lot of time" to rebuild any trust between the Gulf Cooperation Council members because of the region's continuing diplomatic crisis.

*

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said: "Qatar has always been one of the founders of the GCC organisation and we still consider that this has a great importance for all of us in the region."

*

"This organisation has been built on a strategical security and been built on trust. Unfortunately, what happened lately with this crisis, this factor is missing now and needs a lot of time to rebuild the trust again. We hope that it's restored."

11:30am -- UAE FM Gargash calls Qatar 'arrogant'

* The United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash has called Qatar "arrogant" after a Qatari official accused the blockading nations of carrying out a "smear campaign" against Doha.

* "It is the country's arrogant position to accuse the United Arab Emirates' of leading the campaign against it and of opening fronts, including with Saudi Arabia, and at the same time to think that undermining the security of Bahrain and Egypt is a natural right. This is the logic of illogical," Gargash said on Twitter.

* Gargash said Doha's reliance on outside intervention to resolve the conflict is "incorrect behavior" and only leads to prolonging the situation.

9am -- Qatari envoy says three-month blockade has 'failed'

* Qatar's special envoy on counter-terrorism Mutlaq Al Qahtani says the blockade by neighbouring countries has not succeeded after three months.

* In an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal titled "Qatar Will Not Be Intimidated", Qahtani also derided "Saudi and Emirati hypocrisy".

* "If Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- the countries driving the confrontation, despite the appearance of a unified bloc -- hoped to bring Qatar to its knees, they have failed. If they hoped to damage Qatar's reputation and improve their own, they have failed. If they hoped to enhance their relationship with the US at Qatar's expense, again, they have failed," he wrote.

* "Instead, the anti-Qatar smear campaign has put a spotlight on the shameful history and unsavory practices of the Saudis and Emiratis themselves. Saudi Arabia justifies the blockade by alleging that Qatari authorities support extremists and terrorist organisations. But the accusation only reminds observers that the Saudis have consistently failed to prevent the radicalisation of their citizens."

Several international human rights groups sent a letter to the UNHCR on Monday, asking them to reject a move by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, and Egypt to have the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar removed from the 'A' rating of the International Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions list.

*

"As human rights organisations, we call upon your esteemed office to reject this complaint, we also hope that you will call on the four countries, through their permanent representatives at the UN headquarters in Geneva, to stop harassment on human rights defenders, and work to upgrade their national bodies, so as to work efficiently to defend the human and his rights, in accordance with international standards in this regard, and to unite to promote human rights in the region especially and in the world in general," said the letter.

*

The groups that signed the letter included: Free Voice Organization for the Defense of Human Rights -- Paris; Swiss Organization for the Protection of Human Rights -- Geneva; International Council for Justice, Equality and Peace -- COJEP international -- France; Association of Torture Victims in Tunisia -- Geneva; Solidarity for Human Rights -- Geneva; International Observatory for Societies and Sustainable Development -- Tunis; International Coalition for Human Rights and Development -- Geneva; and Libya Watch -- London.

5:15pm -- Report: Saudi crown prince wants out of Yemen war

*

The UK-based Middle East Eye has reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told two former US officials that he "wants out" of the war in Yemen.

*

In a leaked email obtained by the news website, the crown prince also known as MBS, reportedly spoke to Martin Indyk, the former US ambassador to Israel, and Stephen Hadley, the national security advisor during the administration of George W Bush, about his intentions.

*

The details of the discussion were contained in an email between Indyk and Yousef Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates' ambasador to Washington. In the email exchange, Indyk was also quoted as writing thatMBS "is OK with the US engaging Iran as long as it is co-ordinated in advance and the objectives are clear."

13 August 2017

4:45pm -- Qatar opens new sea route with Karachi

*

Qatar's state news agency is reporting that the country has launched a new route between Hamad Port and Pakistan's Port of Karachi on Sunday.

* Qatar said the new route will bloost trade between the two countries, and offer "fast and secure" corridor for importers and exporters, with transit time of six days from Qatar to Karachi and eights days from Pakistan.

3:00pm -- Four states behind blockade gave US assurances its firms would remain unaffected.

*

Reuters is reporting that the four Arab states responsible for a blockade on goods entering Qatar gave the US assurances that its firms would not be affected if they continued to do business with Doha.

* Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt sent US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson a letter in July reassuring him that US companies would not be affected by the boycott, the report says, citing "sources with knowledge of the letter".

In an interview with the Qatari daily, al-Raya, Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri, the head of Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), demanded that Saudi Arabia lift all land and air restrictions on Qatar-based pilgrims traveling to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage.

*

The NHRC has also expressed concerns about the fate of workers for Qatari-owned businesses in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE, after their employers were expelled.

*

The group says hundreds of people are trapped in the countries and are living in difficult conditions.

12 August 2017

10:25pm -- Saudi Arabia, UAE 'tried to host' Taliban first

*

Abdulla Anas, a former friend of the late al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, told the Middle East Eye on Friday that he was "bewildered" by Saudi Arabia's claim that Qatar supported terrorism by allowing the Taliban to open an office in Doha.

*

Anas said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tried to host the Taliban before the armed group set up an office in Qatar..

*

Anas, an Algerian who now lives in London, told Middle East Eye that he made a series of visits to Saudi Arabia between 2006 and 2008 in an effort to bring warring factions in Afghanistan to the negotiating table.

05:30pm -- Qatar to Saudi Arabia: Protect rights of Qatari pilgrims

*

Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri of Qatar's National Human Rights Committee has called on Saudi Arabia to make sure its citizens can perform the Hajj without any problems.

*

Al Marri said Saudi Arabia should "remove all obstacles and iron out all difficulties", calling for the establishment of direct flights from Doha to Jeddah, as well as opening of an inland entry port for low-income pilgrims, who cannot afford to travel to Saudi Arabia by air.

*

"If those obstacles are not removed, then the Saudi Authorities are proving that are not willing to enable pilgrims from Qatar to perform the Hajj rituals this year."

* The Swiss Organization for the Protection of Human Rights says Saudi authorities plan to impose contstraints on Qatari citizens attempting to travel to the kingdom to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.

* "Saudi Arabia, by taking such arbitrary measures, which are not based on any moral or legal basis, prevents innocent people who have no relation with all these political differences from performing their religion rituals, which is in violation of international law," the group said in a statement on Saturday.

1pm -- Former liaison between Gulf states and the Taliban: Saudi Arabia keen on Taliban office

*

A former Afghan mujahideen fighter says Saudi Arabia was interested in hosting a Taliban office in the country, the Middle East Eye reports.

*

Abdullah Anas says he made multiple visits to Saudi Arabia between 2006 and 2008 and met senior officials, including the-then head of intelligence, Prince Muqrin, to help establish a Taliban office.

* He says the meetings were part of an effort to bring all factions in Afghanistan to the table for peace talks.

*

Anas is an Algerian who fought under Afghan mujahideen leader Ahmed Shah Massoud.

9 August 2017

6:00pm -- Qatar waives visas for 80 nationalities

*

Qatar has announced a programme to allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries, in order to encourage air transport and tourism.

*

Nationals from dozens of countries in Europe and elsewhere including India, Lebanon, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States only need present a valid passport to enter Qatar.

*

"The visa exemption scheme will make Qatar the most open country in the region," Hassan al-Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development officer at Qatar Tourism Authority said.

*

Nationals of 33 countries will be allowed to stay for 180 days and the other 47 for up to 30 days.

8 August 2017

11:15pm -- Qatar and UPU address disruption in postal service

*

Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Qatar's minister of transport and communications, met on Tuesday with Bishar Hussein, the director general of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).

*

The meeting comes in response to the complaint submitted by Qatar to the UPU, concerning the violations of the constitution and conventions of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) by the blockading countries, which is the first of its kind in the world and a dangerous precedent for the UPU charters.

*

The officials discussed the violations of UPU regulations, particularly Article 4 of the Union's conventions, regarding the freedom of transit of postal and postal mail.

Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, the chairman of Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) met in the capital Doha on Tuesday with Amjad Shammout, the head of the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights.

*

The meeting dealt with the repercussions of the blockade against Qatar on human rights, the humanitarian situation of the citizens of Qatar and its residents, according to Qatar's state news agency.

2:15pm -- Turkish forces in Qatar creates 'a balance in the region'

*

A senior MP of Turkey's governing party told Al Jazeera that Turkish presence in Qatar creates "a balance in the region" as military forces of the two countries held military exercises.

*

"Turkey is protecting its own interests through the base in Qatar, rather than taking sides between the parties at odds. And Ankara's interests require stability in the region, therefore Turkey would be against an attack on Saudi Arabia as much as Qatar," Yasin Aktay said on Tuesday.

1:15pm -- US envoys arrive in Gulf for talks on GCC crisis

*

Two US envoys have arrived in Kuwait at the start of a tour of the Gulf aimed at resolving the GCC crisis.

*

Kuwait News Agency reported late on Monday that retired US Marine General Anthony Zinni and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Timothy Lenderking met with Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah.

*

The envoys, who will also meet with leaders in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt over the coming days, reiterated US support for Kuwait during the mediation process.

10:30am -- UAE partially reopens airspace to Qatar Airways flights

*

Qatar Airways flights now have temporary access to a new route over UAE airspace, according to an announcement made on the Federal Aviation Administration's NOTAM (A Notice to Airmen) database.

*

The move follows a meeting last week with the UN aviation agency's government council. Contingency routes were planned as part of a preliminary agreement reached earlier this month.

*

Access to the new route began on Monday and ends on November 9. The route only affects inbound flights.

* Another NOTAM notice indicated that an additional route, effective August 17, may be opened, but no further details were given.

The National Committee for Human Rights in Qatar has said in a statement on Monday that it considers Israel's decision to close down the Al Jazeera office "a dangerous precedent illustrating the Israeli occupier's alignment with actions taken by the countries blockading Qatar, showing their utter disregard for calls by the international community that they respect the right to freedom of expression and opinion and the right to information".

*

"The National Committee for Human Rights in the State of Qatar affirms that it will work with its partner organisations at the International Conference for Freedom of Expression towards international mobilisation to limit such violations by the Israeli occupier and the countries blockading [Qatar] that have affected freedom of expression, and to implement the recommendations from the abovementioned conference."

7:20pm -- StanChart CEO: Gulf rift puts Dubai finance hub at risk

*

The boss of Standard Chartered has warned that Dubai risks damaging its status as a financial centre as a result of the trade boycott of Qatar by a Saudi-led bloc, which includes the United Arab Emirates.

*

Standard Chartered is a major lender across the Middle East and CEO Bill Winters said it could become increasingly difficult for Dubai to act as a comprehensive regional hub for international companies' Gulf operations if the tension in the region continued.

*

"There is a lot of benefit we get from having a Dubai hub, we are looking to see what the effect of this will be," he told Reuters. "There is a risk of turning away from the UAE."

7:15pm -- Qatar shipper Milaha plans base in Oman

*

Qatar Navigation (Milaha), a top Doha-based shipping and logistics group, said it was moving its regional trans-shipment hub from Dubai to the Omani port of Sohar after a diplomatic crisis in the region disrupted Qatar's trade.

*

Milaha is setting up a warehousing and logistics operation at Sohar, on Oman's northern coast, and is exploring other opportunities to expand in that country, the company said on Monday.

*

The plan suggests Qatar is making long-term preparations to cope with sanctions imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt.

10:30am -- Israel backs Saudi-led bloc's Al Jazeera stance

*

Israel has said that almost all countries in the region are determined that Al Jazeera "supports terrorism, supports religious radicalisation", echoing the rhetoric of the Arab nations that have shut down the broadcaster.

*

Communications Minister Ayoob Kara said on Sunday he plans to revoke the press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists, effectively preventing them from working in Israel.

12:30am -- Qatar, Turkey wrap up 'Iron Shield' war games

*

Qatari and Turkish forces ended a joint military exercise in Doha.

*

Brigadier Hadi Rashid Al Shahwani, commander of the exercise, said that the "Iron Shield" included training of leaders to assess the situation, planning, control and coordination between the two forces.

*

The Qatar New Agency reported that the exercise was carried out to support counter-terrorism efforts, "extremism and smuggling operations, as well as to maintain security and stability in the region".

12:15am -- Workers in Qatar sent on 'unpaid extended leave'

*

As the blockade on Qatar enters its third month, the Migrant Rights organisation said the effects are "increasingly felt" by migrant workers in the hospitality, construction and shipping industries.

*

The Migrant Rights monitor said that in addition to the standard 30 days of paid annual leave, workers have been "asked" to go on "unpaid long leave" for two to three months.

*

In one case, a migrant worker at a five-star hotel told the group that six restaurants in the hotel have been closed because of the drop in the number of visitors.

6 August 2017

Show more

12:10pm -- Qatar hauling firms feel strain of Gulf rift

*

The closure of Qatar's land border with Saudi Arabia has effectively stopped the import and export businesses of many Qatari truck companies.

*

Business owners, who have complained about less work and higher rents, are hoping the problem is resolved soon.

*

"We have been affected since the first minute," Saeed Fadal Ali Al-Kaabi, director of Al Fadal Transport and Trading, told Al Jazeera.

*

"We are losing money and work is very slow," he said. "We're hardly using any trucks."

11:05am -- US steps up efforts to try and resolve dispute

*

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has asked two officials, including retired general and former Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni, to work on ending the Gulf diplomatic crisis.

*

"There's only so much you can do with telephone persuasion," Tillerson said last week, after vowing to send the duo to mediate.

*

Gerald Feierstein, former US ambassador to Yemen, backed Tillerson's choice of Zinni as a mediator.

*

"He's a man with tremendous experience and knowledge," he said. "Hopefully, with sustained effort from the US, we will find a solution."

5 August 2017

10:05pm -- Gulf blockade boosts local Qatar industries

*

Two months after the blockade was announced, local businessmen say it has created new opportunities for the country.

*

At Don Construction Products workload has doubled in the last few weeks as the company tries to step up its manufacturing of construction chemicals.

*

Abdulla Hamad al-Attiyah, assistant president at Ashghal public works authority, told Al Jazeera work continues on projects related to the World Cup 2022. He said contracts with $1.7bn have been signed after the blockade was announced.

6:30am -- Turkey discusses trade routes with Qatar through Iran

*

Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said on Friday Ankara, Doha and Tehran hope to reach a tripartite agreement on transporting Turkish products to Qatar in a practical and cost-effective way.

*

"We're thinking about alternatives for land trade routes with Qatar," Zeybekci told Anadolu Agency adding that the easiest way is passing through Iran.

*

He pointed that using cargo planes to carry Turkish products to Doha was not sustainable.

*

"Shipment by sea will gain importance. We foresee that at least four large tonnage ships would go to Qatar monthly but the land route is an alternative for carrying flexible and smaller packages," Zeybekci added noting that the easiest option is sending these packages through Iran.

The World Trade Organization has confirmed that Doha has filed complaints against the Saudi-led group that is imposing a blockade on Qatar.

*

"Qatar has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia concerning measures adopted by the three allegedly restricting trade in goods and services from Qatar, and trade-related intellectual property rights," the WTO said on its website on Friday.

*

In its complaints against each country, Qatar accused them of adopting measures that are "coercive attempts at economic isolation."

Officials from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt are set to discuss a complaint lodged by Al Jazeera over the closure of its offices in the four countries.

*

Media ministers will meet in Jeddah on Thursday to respond to Al Jazeera's concerns over free speech, Makram Mohammed Ahmed, the head of Egypt's Supreme Council for Organisation of Information, told the state-run MENA news agency.

A tweet by Donald Trump accusing Qatar of "funding terrorism" was among several social media updates by the president that sent advisers scrambling, the Associated Press reported.

*

Citing two policymakers involved in talks about how to defuse tensions between Qatar and other Arab nations, the news agency said aides had no choice but to rework their plans to reflect Trump's tweet half-way through discussions.

*

Policymakers hope John Kelly, Trump's new chief of staff, can convince the president to tone down tweets at odds with administration policy

*

Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian, said that a public pronouncement that undermines existing policy creates mistrust and "corrodes morale at the bureaus and agencies".

5:05am -- Qatar creates new residency status for foreigners

*

Qatar on Wednesday created a new permanent residents status for certain groups of foreigners, including those who have worked for the benefit of the emirate.

*

In a first for the Gulf, Qatar's cabinet ministers approved the measures, the official QNA press agency reported, in a move that will likely affect tens of thousands of resident foreigners.

*

Under the new rules, children with a Qatari mother and a foreign father can benefit from the new status along with foreign residents who have "given service to Qatar" or have "skills that can benefit the country," the agency said.

*

Those deemed eligible for the new status will be afforded the same access as Qataris to free public services, such as health and education, and will also receive preferable treatment for jobs in the administration and armed services as well as being able to own their own properties and exercise some commercial activities without the need for a Qatari partner.

* Qatar has a population of 2.4 million people, 90 percent of whom are foreigners, including many from Southeast Asia working in construction.

2 August 2017

2:30pm -- Qatar seals $5.9bn navy vessels deal with Italy

*

The foreign ministers of Qatar and Italy promising to strengthen bilateral relations on Wednesday, as Doha announced signing a deal worth 5bn Euros ($5.9bn) with Italy for seven navy vessels.

* Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani made the announcement at a news conference with his Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano in the Qatari capital.

* Of the current crisis, Alfano said Italy supported mediation efforts to end the dispute.

* Alfano also said he was concerned for citizens in the region who were suffering as a result of the fallout.

8am -- UAE says measures against Qatar do not violate WTO agreements

* Economic sanctions imposed on Qatar by three fellow Gulf states do not violate World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, a UAE official said, after Doha launched a wide-ranging legal complaint at the Geneva-based body this week.

* "The sanctions imposed by the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain did not contradict the agreements of the WTO," UAE state news agency WAM quoted Juma Mohammed al-Kait, an assistant undersecretary in the Economy Ministry as saying.

*

In what appeared to be the first response to the Qatari move, Kait said the boycott was in line with articles 21 and article 14 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which allow such moves in the case of security exceptions.

5:25am -- Tillerson sends senior envoys to handle Qatar crisis

*

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has asked two officials, including retired general and former Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni, to work to end the Gulf diplomatic crisis reported AFP news agency on Wednesday.

*

Tillerson told reporters that Qatar is so far fulfilling its commitment to the United States, but that he had sent senior US diplomat Tim Lenderking to the region to push for progress.

*

"And I've also asked retired General Anthony Zinni to go with Tim so that we can maintain a constant pressure on the ground because I think that's what it's going to take," he said. "There's only so much you can do with telephone persuasion."

*

Zinni, 73, was a marine general who once commanded US forces in the Middle East. After the military he served as special envoy to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

1 August 2017

11:45pm -- Qatar's defence minister discusses progress of Gulf crisis

*

Qatar's Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah says the future of the Gulf Cooperation Council is in doubt if the partial blockade of his country continues.

*

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Al Attiyah says the continuing political stalemate is not helping anyone. But he believes there is some sign of movement.

9:05pm -- Turkey, Qatar launch joint military exercises

*

Turkey and its main regional ally Qatar on Tuesday launched military exercises in the emirate that will involve about 250 Turkish troops and 30 armoured vehicles, reports said on Tuesday.

*

Turkish state media said that the Turkish frigate TCG Gokova had docked in Doha earlier this week carrying 214 soldiers who would take part in the exercises.

*

The exercises got under way on Tuesday and would intially involve ground forces with naval forces later on, NTV television said. An observation day involving top commanders would take place on August 7-8, it added.

8:30pm -- Swiss rights body demands end of Hajj restrictions

*

The Swiss Organisation for the Protection of Human Rights (SOPHR) has demanded the Saudi authorities to lift all of the restrictions imposed on the right to worship and to perform religious rituals.

*

All violations committed during the days of the siege, including obstructing the performance of religious rites, are systematic violations that places those responsible under provisions of international law, SOPHR said in a press release on Tuesday.

5:50am -- Qatar Airways expected to access three new air corridors

*

Qatar Airways is expected to have access to three contingency routes over international waters in early August, after a UN-led meeting on Monday discussed air corridors for Doha following a rift with its neighbours.

*

The closed-door meeting with the UN aviation agency's governing council in Montreal, discussed contingency routes that had been planned as part of a preliminary agreement reached earlier this month, but not yet opened to Qatar-registered planes.

*

"Within a week or so they should have new routes," said a source, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, because the talks are private.

The New York Times reported on Monday that the UAE tried to get the Taliban to open an embassy in its capital rather than in Doha.

*

"The Emirati ambassador to Washington, Yousef al-Otaiba, even received "an angry phone call" from the foreign minister at the time complaining that the Taliban had ended up in Qatar and not the UAE," the newspaper said.

*

The reports come from leaked emails between the UAE's ambassador and US officials.

*

One of the complaints against Qatar in the Gulf crisis is its alleged support for so-called "terrorist groups" -- citing the 2013 opening of a Taliban embassy in the Qatari capital, Doha as an example.

* A senior Taliban official later lauded Qatar's role in Afghan peace talks, in an exlclusive interview with Al Jazeera.

2:40am -- ICAO calls on member states to comply with Chicago Convention on International Aviation

*

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Monday called on all member-states to comply with the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and its addendums, reported Qatar News Agency.

*

The ICAO executive council held an extraordinary session in its headquarters in Montreal, to review a casefile presented by Qatar on the damages the siege countries have caused to aviation and flight safety.

*

Qatari Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti said the technical file presented by Qatar to the ICAO pushed the siege countries to waiver and open up seven international emergency air corridors for Qatari flight.

* Al Sulaiti said that Qatar's main goal at the session had been that all states should adhere to the Chicago agreement: "The organisation insisted on using the word 'adhere' because there was a violation of international safety and security. This is what the international community and the states represented think."

*

The minister also noted that the next step will be requesting that the airspace above the siege countries is opened up as well, in line with the rights guaranteed by the Chicago convention.

By formally "requesting consultations" with the three countries, the first step in a trade dispute, Qatar triggered a 60-day deadline for them to settle the complaint or face litigation at the WTO and potential retaliatory trade sanctions.

*

"The consultation request is to discuss and clarify the legality of these measures and find a way to bring them into conformity with their commitments," Al Thani said.

*

"We have always called for dialogue, for negotiations, and this is part of our strategy to talk to the members concerned and to gain more information on these measures, the legality of these measures, and to find a solution to resolve the dispute."

7:40pm -- NHRC sends letters to UN on Hajj obstacles

*

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in Qatar says it has sent a letter to the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief on the obstacles faced by Qatar's citizens and residents who want to do Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

*

It also said in statement that it sent similar letters to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Arab League in order to explain the violations related to the right to practicing religious rituals.

* NHRC said the Saudi authorities allowed the pilgrims to reach the holy sites through two airports only and on connection flights, did not clarify mechanisms for financial transfers and declined to communicate with Qatar on the safety guarantees.

2:40pm -- Qatar rebuts Saudi 'Hajj politicisation' claim

*

Qatar's foreign minister has rebutted accusations by his Saudi counterpart that Qatar is trying to politicise the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

*

"Qatar never politicised the issue of Hajj," he told Al Jazeera on Sunday.

*

"It was Saudi Arabia trying to politicise the Hajj pilgrimage amid the Gulf crisis. There has been no suggestion by any Qatari official about internationalising the issue," he said.

* Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, appeared to accuse Qatar on Sunday of politicising the issue and "declaring a war" against the kingdom by demanding the internationalisation of the Hajj.

1:40pm -- Poll shows improved sentiment towards Qatar

*

Middle East fund managers have become more positive on regional equities and have a balanced view on Qatar following a drop in valuations and as the shock of the sanctions imposed on Doha eases, a monthly poll by the Reuters news agency shows.

*

The poll of 13 leading fund managers, conducted over the past week, found 38 percent expected to increase their allocations to regional equities over the next three months and none to reduce them.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani dismissed Sunday's statement from the four countries and said sanctions were violating international laws.

*

"There isn't a clear vision (from Manama's meeting), there is only a stubborn policy from the blockading countries and refusal to admit that these are illegal actions," Sheikh Mohammed told Al Jazeera.

*

"It's a continuation of a policy of intransigence."

30 July 2017

11:50pm -- Qatar denies Arab states' air corridor claim

*

Qatar has denied Saudi media reports that Arab states would allow Qatari planes to use air corridors in emergencies, saying they were spreading "false information".

*

Qatar's transport and communications ministry and its aviation authority on Sunday denied claims that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain had taken such a decision, the state news agency QNA reported.

*

Saudi state news agency SPA on Sunday cited a statement from the Saudi aviation authority (GACA) as saying they had already agreed emergency air corridors, which were identified under ICAO supervision, and that they would be open from August 1.

*

"Nine corridors have been identified including one in international airspace over the Mediterranean sea that will be monitored by the Egyptian authorities," SPA said.

The Qatar central bank's net international reserves plunged by $10.4bn in June to $24.4bn because of the Gulf crisis, central bank data showed on Sunday.

*

Reserves hit their lowest level in at least five years.

*

However, Qatar's sovereign wealth fund is believed to have about $180bn or more of liquid foreign assets, which could be used to replenish the central bank reserves when authorities decide that is necessary.

6:10pm -- Blockade slashed Qatar imports in June

*

An air, sea and land blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states slashed Qatar's imports by more than a third in June while exports, excluding its vital shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG), were also disrupted, official data showed on Sunday.

Now that alternate shipping routes and suppliers have been arranged, analysts believe Qatar can function fairly well even if the sanctions continue, and still expect it to be one of the Gulf's best-performing economies this year.

3:15pm -- Saudi-led bloc FMs meet in Manama

*

The foreign ministers of the four Arab countries imposing a partial blockade on Qatar have met in Manama, the Bahraini capital, to discuss the potential further measures that can be taken towards the Gulf nation.

*

The foreign ministers said at a joint press conference on Sunday that they were ready for dialogue with Qatar if it showed willingness to fight terrorism.

* "The four countries are ready for dialogue with Qatar with the condition that it announces its sincere willingness to stop funding terrorism and extremism and its commitment to not interfere in other countries' foreign affairs and respond to the 13 demands," Bahrain's Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa said.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain are expected to discuss imposing new economic sanctions on Qatar when they meet in the Bahraini capital Manama on Sunday, according to the pan-Arab al-Hayat newspaper.

*

Foreign ministers of the four countries "are expected to impose sanctions that will gradually affect the Qatari economy", al-Hayat newspaper said, citing unidentified Gulf sources, without giving any further details.

29 July 2017

9:50pm -- Qatar reiterates cooperation with UN on fighting terrorism

*

Qatar reiterates its cooperation with various UN bodies related to the fight against terrorism, Qatar's Permanent Representative to the UN Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani tells the UN General Assembly.

*

"The State of Qatar attaches great importance to working within regional and international mechanisms to eradicate all forms of terrorism and address their causes," Sheikha Alia said.

*

"Qatar has been keen to fully implement measures to address conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, enhance international cooperation in the field of prevention and combating of terrorism and to fully comply with the international obligations of the UN Security Council relating to the fight against terrorism and its financing."

*

She stressed Qatar's keenness to continuously update its national laws and regulations related to the fight against terrorism and its financing to cope with any emerging terrorist challenges.

7pm -- France's Vinci says Gulf rift not hurting its Qatar business

*

French construction group Vinci has said that its Qatar business had seen no disruption at this stage after Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain severed relations with Qatar last month.

*

Vinci operates in Qatar through its 49 percent-owned Qatari unit QDVC. It also counts the wealthy Arab state as its third-largest shareholder, with a stake of nearly 4 percent, according to Reuters data.

*

"For the moment, no disruption. Our projects are not disturbed. Qatar is rather looking for friends and this facilitates discussions on some projects," Chief Executive Xavier Huillard told an interim results news conference.

3:30pm -- UAE: Gulf dispute more philosophical than diplomatic

*

UAE ambassador to the US, Yousef Al Otaiba, has suggested that the Gulf dispute is more philosophical than diplomatic.

*

In an interview with America's PBS on Tuesday, he said the Saudi-led group blockading Qatar wanted to see "more secular, stable" governments in the region, an order he claimed Qatar "fundamentally opposed".

*

"What we've seen Qatar do for the last 10 to 15 years, [is] support groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Taliban, Islamist militias in Syria, Islamist militias in Libya, exactly the opposite direction we think our region needs to go," he said. "So our disagreement is about what the future of the Middle East should look like."

3:15pm -- Qatar accuses Saudi Arabia of politicising Hajj

*

Qatar has filed a complaint with the UN protesting new restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia against Qatari nationals planning to travel to Mecca for the annual Muslim pilgrimage.

*

Qatar's National Human Rights Commission said on Saturday that its citizens have been told they can only enter Saudi Arabia through two airports, and that they must travel via Doha to be allowed in.

*

This would be challenging for Qataris who do not live in Doha, such as those studying abroad.

10:10am -- 'Differing views over future of Arab people at heart of Gulf crisis'

*

The differences between how Qatar and the Saudi-led bloc view the future of the Arab people is at the heart of the Gulf crisis, a senior Qatari official said on Friday.

*

Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Qatar's ambassador to Russia, told a radio station in Moscow that his country supported the Arab people's aspirations in the wake of uprisings that began in Tunisia in 2010, Qatar News Agency reported.

*

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, however, chose to go against that current, he said, adding that the four states wanted Qatar to punish those who oppose their governments and brand them terrorists.

*

"This in itself is terrorism," he said. "The siege countries are trying to reproduce the regimes that produced terrorism, and they want to convince us that these regimes will fight terrorism."

2am -- Arab states to meet in Bahrain on Sunday

*

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain will meet in Manama on Sunday to discuss the latest developments on their blockade of Qatar.

*

In the two-day meeting, the four countries will press Qatar to comply with their demands, which include stopping alleged interference in their internal affairs.

28 July 2017

11:15am -- Qatar refuses to 'outsource foreign policy'

*

Qatar said it refuses to bow to Saudi-led demands to "outsource" its foreign policy to resolve the Gulf crisis.

*

Government spokesman Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed Al-Thani told AFP in an interview that Qatar's sovereignty and independence is behind the dispute.

*

"It (the crisis) is about... outsourcing our foreign policy so that decisions are not made in Qatar, and that is something that will never be acceptable," he said.

12:05am -- Qatar says UN should play role in resolving Gulf crisis

*

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called on the UN to help resolve the Gulf crisis, adding that the Saudi-led group blockading Qatar has violated international law.

*

Speaking after a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the foreign minister said that Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain are showing "stubbornness" and have not taken any steps to solve the crisis.

*

He vowed that Qatar will spare no effort to overcome what he called "violations" and said "the United Nations is the right platform to start from".

27 July 2017

11:35am -- UAE asks banks to freeze accounts of those named on Qatar-linked blacklist

*

The United Arab Emirates' central bank has asked all banks to stop dealing with the 18 individuals and entities added to a Qatar-linked blacklist, the state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday.

*

The move makes it the first financial watchdog in the Gulf to act on the new blacklist, with regulators in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt likely to follow.

*

In a circular, the UAE watchdog asked banks and financial institutions to "start immediate search for and freezing of all bank accounts, investments, and deposits that may be held by any individual or entity" included on the July 25 list.

2:45am -- Qatar's FM says blockading states are ignoring US calls to end Gulf crisis

*

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is in Washington DC for talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

*

"It was noticed that the blockade states did not react to the suggestions made by the US Secretary of State," said Mohammed bin Abdulrahman after a meeting on Wednesday.

*

The Qatari foreign minister added that Qatar had dealt with US advice in a "positive and constructive way".

*

"In addition, we discussed our bilateral relations and the memorandum of understanding on fighting terrorism that we signed and the measures we took regarding it," said Mohammed bin Abdulrahman.

26 July 2017

1:00pm -- Qatar says new Saudi bloc blacklist 'disappointing'

*

Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed Al Thani, Qatar's communications director, said the decision by four Arab states to add 18 groups and individuals allegedly linked to Doha to their "terrorist" list has no basis in fact.

*

"It comes as a disappointing surprise that the blockading countries are still pursuing this story as part of their smear campaign against Qatar," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

*

"This latest list provides further evidence that the blockading countries are not committed to the fight against terrorism," he said, adding: "All individuals with links to terrorism in Qatar have been prosecuted."

Qatar said it remains committed to settling international disputes through peaceful means despite a unilateral blockade imposed against the Gulf nation by its Arab neighbours.

*

Speaking at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Qatar's envoy to the UN, said her government supports global efforts at ensuring peace and security, as well as international and bilateral efforts to combat terrorism.

4:05am -- Qatari FM's US visit aims to inform politicians about impacts of the crisis

*

Qatar's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Wednesday that his current visit to Washington is part of the follow-up efforts exerted by the State of Kuwait in partnership with the United States to reach a diplomatic solution to the Qatar-Gulf crisis.

*

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman said that "this visit is also aimed at informing politicians, senators and MPs in the United States about the negative impacts of this crisis on the region".

*

The Foreign Minister said that "the US position demanded, since the outbreak of the crisis, the rapid lifting of the unjust siege against Qatar ... but the contradictory statements of the siege countries prevented this to happen."

3:25am -- Qatari compensation committee receives nearly 3,000 claims

*

The Qatari Compensation Claims Committee has received 2,945 individual cases from the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), reported the Qatar News Agency on Wednesday.

*

Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Hammadi -- Secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and member of the claims committee -- told Al Jazeera that the committee receives about 100-160 complaints and 60 calls a day.

*

The Compensation Claims Committee was formed on July 9 to consider citizen compensation or bring cases to the competent domestic and international courts related to the blockade.

*

The compensation committee was divided into three sections, said Al-Hammadi: the first is to examine citizens' complaints about violations of human rights or individual damage; and the second for traders who were affected by the closure of land, sea and air borders; and third of government institutions affected by the blockade such as the Ministry of Economy and Qatari Aviation.

25 July 2017

10:45pm -- Lebanon's PM: Dialogue is the best way to resolve the Gulf crisis

*

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said that dialogue was the best way to improve ties between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

*

"I think there is an effort by the Kuwaitis [to resolve the crisis]... I think that they made some progress. We believe that the dialogue is the best way in improving the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Qatar," he told reporters on Tuesday at a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

*

"I believe that maybe the United States could also help in solving this issue in the Gulf," he added.

10pm -- Qatar's FM: The quartet undermines mediation efforts

*

Qatar's foreign minister has criticised Saudi Arabia and three other blockading countries for actions which he said were undermining mediation efforts backed by the US.

*

"We see there is a negative behaviour aimed at influencing the mediation, either through statements or through (media) leaks which they launch at critical moments," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told Al Jazeera late on Tuesday.

*

He reiterated the Qatari position that Doha was ready for dialogue on a range of issues of concern but that it would not negotiate over topics to do with internal affairs and that the boycott against it must be lifted.

5:40pm -- Egypt: No compromise in dispute with Qatar

*

Egypt has said that the four Arab states would accept no compromise in their dispute with Qatar over allegations that Doha supports "terrorism".

*

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, speaking after talks with warned the European Union diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels on Tuesday, said Qatar must accept in full the demands by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

*

"It is not an issue of compromise, we cannot compromise with any form of terrorism, we cannot compromise or enter into any form of negotiations," Shoukry told a press conference.

*

"It is only once the necessary measures are undertaken by Qatar, that goes towards truly accepting to be a partner in the fight against terrorism, that this crisis will be resolved," he said.

4:25pm -- Erdogan: Gulf tour was 'productive and successful'

*

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday described his two-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar to deal with the Gulf crisis as "productive and successful".

*

He told lawmakers from his ruling AK Party at a parliamentary meeting: "The contacts we have made during this visit have been useful, and we will continue our efforts for the stability and peace of the region with increasing determination."

2:15pm -- Rights groups 'condemn' demand to close down Al Jazeera

*

A number of international, regional and national rights organisations "unequivocally" condemned the Saudi-led group's demand to close Al Jazeera and other media outlets that Qatar allegedly funds.

*

The group made the statement on Tuesday at a conference organised by Qatar's National Human Rights Committee in Doha.

*

The organisations also expressed their "total solidarity with journalists and other media and ancillary works at Al Jazeera and other targeted media".

1:30pm -- Qatar: 'Lifting siege comes before dialogue'

*

Qatar's Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah says the blockade imposed on his country by four Arab states must be lifted before engaging in any dialogue with its neighbours.

*

"Lifting the siege should precede any dialogue," al-Attiyah said in an interview with Russia Today, excerpts of which was published by Qatar's official news agency on Tuesday.

*

"If the blockade countries remain reluctant to lift the siege, Qatar will be compelled to resort to the available international legal procedures to lift it," he said.

1:15pm -- Saudi-led states blacklist 18 individuals and groups

*

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have added 18 individuals and groups to its so-called "terror list", according to state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

*

The new entrants include entities from Libya and Yemen and individuals from Qatar, Yemen and Kuwait who the Arab states say have direct and indirect links to Qatari authorities, a joint statement by the Saudi-led group said, according to SPA.

1:05pm -- Saudi lobby pays $138,000 for anti-Qatar ads in the US

*

A Saudi lobby in the US has launched a television advertisement campaign against Qatar, contracts reviewed by Al Jazeera show, with $138,000 spent on seven, 30-second TV spots.

*

The TV spots have been purchased by the Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee (SAPRAC).

3:15am -- Qatar's defence minister praises Russia

*

Qatar's Minister of State for Defence Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah on Monday praised Russia's clear position that supports lifting the unjust siege imposed on the Gulf nation.

*

Al Attiyah said in an interview with Russian news channel RT that the speech of the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani was clear and comprehensive, laying a road map and telling the truth that many of the peoples knew but that some parties refuse to understand.

*

He noted that the Emir intended to deliver a speech to the Qatari people and residents since the beginning of the crisis but opted to delay the speech to a suitable time in response to the request of Emir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, who has led the mediation efforts to end the crisis.

Russia is ready to help mediate in the dispute between Qatar and four other Arab states if approached, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview released on Monday.

*

"We are interested in this crisis being overcome, taking into account mutual concerns and finding solutions which will be acceptable for all participants of this process," Lavrov told Kurdish television channel Rudaw, according to a transcript of the interview published on the foreign ministry's website.

*

"We support the mediating efforts which are being made by the Emir of Kuwait... If as part of those efforts or in addition to them all sides think that Russia could also do something useful, we will be ready to respond to such appeals," Lavrov said, according to the transcript.

6:30pm -- Qatar's Emir and Erdogan discuss Gulf crisis

*

Qatar and Turkey have discussed the Gulf crisis and efforts being exerted to defuse the dispute between Doha and a group of Saudi-led Arab states through dialogue and diplomatic means.

*

This came during a meeting between Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Doha on Monday.

*

The two sides praised Kuwait mediation to end the row. Erdogan is on a Gulf tour that took him to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

*

The two leaders also discussed Qatar-Turkey joint efforts in the fight against "terrorism and extremism", according to Qatar's state news agency.

2:25pm -- Saudi Arabia allows access to pilgrims from Qatar

*

Saudi Arabia has allowed access to pilgrims from neighbouring Qatar aboard all flights other than Qatar Airways, Qatar's national carrier.

*

"Pilgrims from Qatar who have Hajj permits ... can come directly from Doha or through any other transit place," the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a statement cited by the official SPA news agency on Sunday.

A Saudi official announced on his Twitter account early on Monday that Qatar-based websites were unblocked in the country because of a technical issue and they will be blocked again in a few hours, according to Turkey's Anadolu agency.

*

Saud al-Qahtani, a Saudi royal court adviser, was apparently referring to Al Jazeera and beIN Sports that have been blocked in the country since the beginning of the Gulf crisis.

*

There was no official statement on the issue.

23 July 2017

11:30pm -- Erdogan meets with Kuwait's Emir

*

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held a meeting with Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al Sabah at Dar Salwa Palace which lasted an hour.

8pm -- Erdogan heads to Kuwait

*

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has left Saudi Arabia for Kuwait, the mediator in the Gulf crisis.

*

He will meet with Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al Sabah later on Sunday.

Federica Mogherini, the European Union foreign affairs chief, on Sunday called for swift direct talks to resolve the Gulf crisis.

*

Her remark came in a statement after she met Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al Sabah and expressed EU support for Kuwait's "relentless mediation efforts" in the dispute.

*

Mogherini called on "all the parties to enter into negotiations to agree clear principles and a roadmap for a swift resolution of the crisis".

*

She said the EU was ready to support the process of negotiations and assist in the implementation of a plan for the resolution of the crisis, in particular in the area of counterterrorism.

7:10pm -- Alliance for Freedom and Dignity probes Qatar blockade

*

A European human rights organisation has called on Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain to end their blockade against Qatar and help alleviate the suffering of citizens on disputing sides.

*

A 16-member delegation from the Brussels-based Alliance for Freedom and Dignity, AFD, travelled to Doha to investigate and document the humanitarian impact on ordinary citizens resulting from the blockade imposed on Qatar on June 5.

6:45pm -- UK welcomes Qatar's call for Gulf crisis talks

*

Britain's government has praised Qatari Emir's willingness for dialogue to resolve the ongoing diplomatic dispute with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.

*

"I welcome the Emir of Qatar's commitment to combat terrorism in all its manifestations, including terrorist financing," Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in a statemen on Sunday.

*

"The Emir also pledged to resolve the remaining differences with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain through dialogue, negotiation, and Kuwaiti mediation. These steps will help to resolve the dispute," Johnson added.

5:55pm -- Erdogan meets Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince

*

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman separately on Sunday in the Saudi city of Jeddah on the first leg of his Gulf tour, which will also include Kuwait and Qatar.

Prolonging the crisis in the Gulf is not in the interest of anyone, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said as he embarked on a visit to the region.

*

"No-one has any interest in prolonging this crisis any more," the president said before leaving Istanbul airport. He accused "enemies" of seeking to "fire up tensions between brothers".

22 July 2017

9:30pm -- UAE: No dialogue with Qatar until it revises policies

*

Anwar Gargash, the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, said a call for dialogue by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was welcome, but it could only happen after Doha had made changes in its policies. He did not specify the required changes.

*

"Dialogue is necessary and needed but its backbone has to be revision," Gargash said on his Twitter account.

*

He expressed disappointment with by Sheikh Tamim's Friday speech: "I had hoped that the speech of Sheikh Tamim would be an initiative for revision."

5:30pm -- Qatar's BeIN sports network back on air in UAE

*

Qatar's BeIN sports satelite network was broadcasting again on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates, according to subscribers to its channels which have been blocked since the start of a Gulf crisis.

*

"We are again receiving the network of BeIN sports channels, distributed by Du," one of two telecommunications companies in the Emirates, one customer told AFP news agency.

*

Etisalat, a UAE-based telecommunications giant, had also reinstated BeIN sports, according to several subscribers to its channels. Customers were informed of the move in an email from Etisalat.

*

"We would like to advise that starting 22 July 2017 the BeIN package will be available to customers and normal charges will apply," the message said. "The provision of the BeIN package will be subject to an ongoing review."

03:10am -- Key points of Qatari Emir's speech

*

The spirit of solidarity, harmony and defiance that had prevailed in the people of Qatar frustrated the hopes of those who banked on the opposite.

*

Qatar is fighting terrorism, relentlessly and without compromises and the international community recognises this.

*

Differences are resolved through dialogue and negotiation and we should not burden civilians with political differences.

*

We are opening our economy to initiatives, investments, production of food, medicine and ultimately to diversify our source of income.

*

We are open to dialogue to find solutions to lingering problems, within the framework of respect for the sovereignty and will of each state as mutual undertakings and joint commitments binding all.

12:41am -- Turkish President to embark on a two-day Gulf tour

*

Recep Tayyip Erdogan will embark on a two-day Gulf tour starting on Sunday as part of his efforts to resolve the crisis in the region.

*

His first stop will be in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, during which he will meet Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

* Erdogan will then depart for Kuwait to meet Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who has led mediation efforts to resolve the crisis. His next stop will be Doha, where he will meet the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

21 July 2017

10:15pm -- Emir Sheikh Tamim denounces "smearing" of Qatar

*

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has denounced the "malicious smearing campaign" directed against the country in his first address following the blockade.

*

Sheikh Tamim said Qatar and its people "rose spontaneously defending the sovereignty and independence of the country."

05:20pm -- Tillerson hopes Qatar blockade will be lifted

*

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has renewed his call on Arab states to lift the blockade on Qatar, saying the US is satisfied with Doha's efforts to implement an agreement aimed at combating terror financing.

*

"They have been very aggressive in implementing that agreement, so I think we're satisfied with the effort they're putting forth," Tillerson told reporters just before meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah at the State Department on Friday.

04:50pm -- UAE welcomes Qatar's move to amend anti-terror laws

*

The United Arab Emirates on Friday welcomed Qatar's decision to amend its anti-terrorism laws, in one of the first positive signs since sanctions were imposed on Doha in June.

*

"The Qatari decree to amend the anti-terrorism law is a positive step to deal seriously with the 59 terrorists," UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on Twitter.

*

Gargash also said the countries' concerns about Qatar's relationship with Iran had eased since Kuwait ordered the expulsion of Iranian diplomats for alleged links to a "spy and terror" cell on Thursday.

04:33pm -- Erdogan says Turkey will try to solve GCC crisis

*

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would do his best to solve problems between the "brothers of the Gulf region" as he prepared to visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar on July 23-24.

*

Erdogan has been a staunch ally of Qatar in its dispute with its neighbours. He has criticised a list of demands by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to end sanctions they imposed on Doha.

*

In a speech in Istanbul, Erdogan said the political problems were temporary and he called on Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states to invest in Turkey.

10:45am -- China urges Gulf crisis talks after Qatar FM visit

*

China's foreign minister has called on Doha and the four Arab countries blockading Qatar to resolve their differences through talks within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to Chinese state media.

*

Wang Yi made the remarks after meeting his Qatari counterpart in Beijing on Thursday, a day after he held talks with a top UAE official.

*

"All sides should continue restraint and conduct face-to-face talks as soon as possible, so as to avoid escalation of the situation, send out a positive signal in addressing the crisis through political and diplomatic means, and reassure the role of the GCC," Wang said.

2:40am -- Qatar's Emir orders changes to law combating terrorism

*

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has issued a decree amending some provisions of a law on "combating terrorism", the state news agency reported.

*

The decree issued on Thursday included definitions for the terms "terrorist", "crime", "terrorist acts", "terrorist entities", "the freezing of funds" and the "financing of terrorism", according to the Qatar News Agency.

Earlier on Thursday, Moustafa told the UN Security Council that Qatar is adopting a "pro-terrorist" policy that violated UN council resolutions, and said it is "shameful" that the 15-member body had not held Qatar accountable.

1am -- Qatar says cyberattack 'originated from the UAE'

*

Qatar's Ministry of Interior say experts now have evidence showing that the cyberattack on the country's official media originated from the United Arab Emirates.

*

During a news conference in Doha on Thursday, officials said the planning for the hacking of Qatar News Agency (QNA) started as early as April.

*

Investigators also reportedly traced the IP (internet protocol) address linked to the hacking to the UAE. Officials said the case has been referred to prosecutors.

*

The UAE denies the allegations.

20 July 2017

6:10pm -- Qatar presents more evidence of hacking

*

Qatar has presented on Thursday new evidence and technical details "confirming direct contact" from one of the blockading countries, leading to the hacking of the country's official media.

*

Qatar's Ministry of Interior said the hackers obtained addresses, passwords and emails of state media staff, using them to carry out the attack against Qatar News Agency and its related media accounts.

1:00pm -- Qatar FM to meet Chinese counterpart

*

Qatar's foreign minister is visiting Beijing a day after his Chinese counterpart told a top UAE official that China hoped the rift between the Gulf countries could be repaired.

Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus called on Saudi Arabia to drop 13 demands it and other Arab states had made of Qatar, saying they represent an infringement on its sovereignty.

*

Speaking in an interview with the Qatar-based Al Jazeera broadcast on Wednesday, Kurtulmus also said: "The UAE must show a stand that is in favour of peace and a settlement and this is in its interest too, otherwise every conflict breeds conflict and no one knows the outcome."

*

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar on July 23-24 as part of efforts to resolve the crisis.

*

Kurtulmus also said Turkey had no plans to shut its military base in Qatar, where a fresh contingent of troops arrived on Wednesday, saying it was not aimed against any of Qatar's neighbours.

*

He also said that Turkey and Qatar were planning to conduct military exercises in coming days and that US forces may join in the exercises.

3:30am -- US praises Qatar's role in fight against 'terrorism'

*

The US State Department praised Qatar's "strong partnership" in the fight against "terrorism" in its annual "Country Reports on Terrorism" released on Wednesday.

*

The State Department said Doha had "maintained a strong partnership in the fight against terrorism in 2016 and collaborated to foster closer regional and international cooperation on counterterrorism, law enforcement and rule of law activities".

*

Qatar, it added, has made "significant progress" in combatting terrorist financing but "terrorist financiers within the country are still able to exploit Qatar's informal financial system".

* The Saudi-led group blockading Qatar accuse it of funding "terrorism", an accusation Doha rejects as "baseless".

*

The State Department also said that individuals and "entities" in Saudi Arabia had been channelling money out of the country to "terrorist" organisations but that: "Saudi Arabia continued to maintain a strong counterterrorism relationship with the United States".

*

The report also mentioned that individuals have made use of the UAE as a financial hub to funnel money out of the country to "terrorist" groups, but that the UAE had increased its counterterrorism prosecutions.

Most Gulf nationals cannot now travel to or from Qatar; breaking up families and business ties, and dealing a blow to cross-border investments, reported the Financial Times on Wednesday.

*

Businesses say the embargo is causing uncertainty and confusion, and pushing up costs.

*

Contractors are shifting supply chains from the UAE to Oman, which has remained neutral in the dispute -- although many can still move materials from the UAE to Qatar, albeit with extra precautions.

*

"The crisis has encouraged companies to think about restructuring to keep UAE and Qatar operations separate," says one diplomat.

*

Qatari businesses are having to seek alternative sources for some building materials such as aggregate.

*

Mohammed Saleh's business distributes building materials across the region -- the crisis left Qatar-bound cargo stranded in Dubai. He had to take out a loan to pay his supplier, and lost £30,000: "One minute we are doing business with Qatar, the next we are told we are doing business with terrorist financiers," he said. "It's all so confusing."

10:55pm -- Qatar faults 'disorganised' conduct by Saudi-led group

*

A government official in Qatar has called the Saudi-led group's conduct "dangerous" and "disorganised" after the four Arab nations modified their demands.

*

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain called on Qatar on Wednesday to commit to six principles on combatting terrorism, instead of the 13 demands they had initially made.

* Sheikh Saif Al Thani, director of Qatar's government communications office, told the Associated Press news agency that the new demands are "another example of the dangerous and disorganised manner in which the illegal blockade has been conducted".

*

The four countries have regularly issued "conflicting statements and arguments," he said.

7:55pm -- Qatar Hajj pilgrims facing 'obstacles'

*

The head of Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) said the Saudi government was putting obstacles against Qatari citizens who wished to perform the annual Hajj or Pilgrimage.

*

Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri said Saudi Arabia is "inciting" its citizens against Qataris. He also said that Gulf states are rebuffing Qatar's bid to ease humanitarian impact of the blockade.

5:05pm -- Qatar business lobby to assess blockade losses

*

The Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry has asked local companies to report any loss of earnings caused by the Saudi-led blockade of Doha.

*

The business lobby said it would use the information "to take appropriate legal measures" to limit damage, and to help companies claim compensation for any losses.

6:45am -- Saudi-led group urges Qatar to accept six 'principles'

*

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE are urging Qatar to commit to six 'principles' on combating "extremism" and "terrorism", and to negotiate a plan with specific measures to implement them.

*

Abdallah al-Mouallimi, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the UN, told reporters on Tuesday that the four countries are now committed to the six principles agreed on by their foreign ministers at a July 5 meeting in Cairo.

*

Six 'principles':

*

Commitment to combat extremism and terrorism in all their forms and to prevent their financing or providing havens.

*

Suspending all acts of provocation and speeches inciting hatred or violence.

*

Full compliance with the Riyadh Agreement of 2013 and the supplementary agreement and its implementation mechanisms of 2014 within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

*

Adherence to all the outcomes of the Arab Islamic American Summit held in May 2017 in Riyadh.

*

Refraining from interfering in the internal affairs of states and from supporting illegal entities.

*

The responsibility of all states of the international community to confront all forms of extremism and terrorism as a threat to international peace and security.

*

Mouallimi also said that the four Arab states believe that stopping incitement to violence is essential, but he said closing Al Jazeera might not be necessary.

*

"If the only way to achieve that is by closing down Al Jazeera, fine," he said. "If we can achieve that without closing down Al Jazeera, that's also fine. The important thing is the objective and the principle involved."

6:30am -- Qatar FM meets with Pakistan PM over Gulf crisis

*

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his support for the "efforts in finding a solution to the current crisis in the Gulf", his office said on Monday.

*

Sharif met with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Islamabad on Monday to discuss the rift between Doha and four other Arab states.

4:30am -- Another US media outlet reports that the UAE played a role in Qatar hacking

*

Another US media organisation is reporting the United Arab Emirates played a role in the hacking of Qatar's state news agency. The hack led to fake news being posted about the Qatari Emir.

*

NBC News has cited multiple US intelligence sources confirming a Washington Post article alleging the UAE was behind the attack.

*

The UAE denies involvement.

18 July 2017

08:15pm -- Qatar weighs seeking damages over Gulf blockade

*

Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar's economy minister, met on Tuesday with the heads of international trade organisations in Geneva to discuss the compensation.

* Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah, Qatar's defence minister, also said the country may even go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, in The Hague.

*

Qatar has contracted a specialised legal team to study the actions taken by the blockading countries against it, according to a statement from the economy ministry.

06:15pm -- Iran FM Zarif says Gulf divisions slowing ISIL fight

*

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said divisions in the Gulf region are slowing down the fight against groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

* Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Zarif also expressed hope that Iran and Saudi Arabia could one day set aside their difference and work together to end the war in Yemen.

*

"Iran is a serious partner for all these countries in fighting our common enemy, because we believe at the end of the day, these extremist forces are as much as threat against us, but even more a threat against them," Zarif said.

04:35pm -- FIFA: No effort to take away 2022 World Cup

*

The international football federation has denied reports that there is an effort to strip Qatar of the 2022 World Cup.

* In a statement to Al Jazeera, FIFA said: "The FIFA President has never received such a letter and subsequently has not made any comment on that."

*

Reuters earlier reported that a group of Arab nations have asked FIFA to take action against Qatar. The website designed to look like a Swiss news publication turned out to be fake and Reuters withdrew the story.

9:50am -- Turkey's Erdogan to visit Gulf next week

* Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar on July 24-25, the president's office said.

9:45am -- Al Jazeera: 'Business as normal' despite Gulf crisis

*

Giles Trendle, the acting general manager of Al Jazeera's English-language service, said the channel is not going anywhere despite demands by Saudi Arabia and other Arab states to close it down.

*

"Obviously it's an unusual situation but it's business as normal ... we're just getting on with our jobs," Trendle said at London's iconic Frontline Club on Monday.

8:05am -- Qatar: No right to ask for closing Turkish base

* Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Qatar's defence minister, said no country has the right to call for the closure of the Turkish base in Doha.

*

In an interview with TRT, al-Attiyah said everyone knew about the Turkish base in Qatar a long time ago.

*

"Unfortunately, we did not choose the time to attack, besiege and boycott Qatar," he said.

*

The Saudi-led group "did choose the time so they cannot come and ask us to close a base where everybody knows about it from a long time back and this is considered a relation between two sovereign state countries".

5am -- Iran FM: Gulf dispute hampering fight against 'terrorism'

*

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said divisions in the Gulf region are hampering the fight against what he called "terrorism".

*

While speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, he also expressed hope that Iran and Saudi Arabia could one day work together to end the war in Yemen.

17 July 2017

10:20pm -- Egypt ends visa-free entry for Qatari citizens

*

Egypt's foreign ministry has announced the end of visa-free entry for Qataris -- the latest measure taken against Doha in the Gulf crisis.

*

Qatari nationals will now have to apply for a visa in order to enter Egypt, the ministry said on Monday.

*

"It does not make sense to keep making exceptions for Qatar and giving it privileges in light of its current positions," said Ahmed Abu Zeid, Egypt's foreign ministry spokesman.

*

The restriction will not affect spouses and children of Egyptian nationals, as well as Qatari nationals who are studying at Egyptian public universities, Abu Zeid said.

Fayez Sarraj, the head of Libya's UN-backed government, told Russia's Sputnik that resolution of the Gulf crisis would "positively impact the situation in Libya" as the disputing countries have ties with rival forces in his country.

*

He said he hoped that "this situation between the Arab brothers will be resolved, the crisis will end, and inter-Arab reconciliation will replace it again".

9:05pm -- Egypt tells Kuwait it will keep sanctions against Doha

*

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has told his Kuwait counterpart that Egypt is standing by the list of demands it and three other Arab states made of Qatar and will keep sanctions against Doha in place until the demands are met.

* Ahmed Abu Zeid, Egypt's foreign ministry spokesman, said in a statement that the stance comes "in light of what the quartet states see as Qatar's stalling and procrastination, and lack of concern for the concerns of the four states".

Sisi told Sabah he appreciated what Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah was doing to preserve Arab unity but that Egypt would not let anyone interfere in its affairs and would stand strong against policies that support terrorism, his spokesman Alaa Youssef said in a statement.

8:30pm -- Report: Egypt tightens visa rules for Qatar's citizens

*

Qatar's citizens will no longer be able to receive visas upon arrival to Egypt, according to an official source at Cairo International Airport quoted by Egypt's state-run Ahram Online publication.

*

The restriction coming into force on Wednesday will not affect spouses and children of Egyptian nationals, as well as Qatari nationals who are studying at Egyptian public universtities, the report said on Monday.

*

Those affected by the move, including holders of diplomatic or special passports, will have to apply for visas in advance from an Egyptian embassy abroad, said the source on condition of anonymity.

*

Egypt's foreign ministry has not issued a statement regarding the changes.

4:35pm -- Qatar: UAE violated international law by hacking QNA

* Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed Al-Thani, the director of Qatar's government communications office, said in a statement on Monday the "crime" of hacking its state news agency (QNA) by the United Arab Emirates was a violation of international law.

*

"The State of Qatar has long maintained that its government news agency website was hacked on 24 May and fabricated quotes published. The information published in the Washington Post on 16 July 2017, which revealed the involvement of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and senior Emirati officials in the hacking of Qatar News Agency, unequivocally proves that this hacking crime took place."

*

"It is especially unfortunate that this shameful act of cyber terrorism is being attributed to a fellow member of the Gulf Cooperation Council".

*

"This criminal act represents a clear violation and breach of international law and of the bilateral and collective agreements signed between the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as collective agreements with the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the United Nations."

*

"The Public Prosecutor will take all necessary legal measures to bring to justice the perpetrators and instigators of this crime, whether in Qatari courts or relevant international jurisdictions specialising in cybercrimes."

11:45am -- UAE minister denies any hacking of Qatar

*

Anwar Gargash, the UAE's state minister for foreign affairs, said his country was not responsible for any alleged hacking of Qatari websites.

*

Gargash also said the UAE would not escalate its blockade on Qatar by asking companies to choose between doing business with it or Qatar.

4:20am -- UAE wants international monitoring of Qatar

*

"We need a regional solution and international monitoring," said Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, in prepared remarks he was scheduled to deliver on Monday in London.

*

"We need to be certain that Qatar, a state with $300bn in reserves, is no longer an official or unofficial sponsor of jihadist and terrorist causes," he said, giving no further detail on the proposed monitoring. Qatar strongly denies all allegations of supporting "terrorism".

*

Gargash said the memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Qatar on Tuesday on the financing of terrorism was a positive development but fell short of allaying their concerns

*

"We do see signs now, however, that our pressure is working," Gargash said. "We are ready for this process to take a long time."

3:50am -- UAE arranged hacking of Qatari media: Washington Post

*

The United Arab Emirates arranged for Qatari government social media and news sites to be hacked in late May in order to post false quotes linked to Qatar's emir, prompting the Qatar-Gulf diplomatic crisis, the Washington Post reported on Sunday.

*

The Post reported that US intelligence officials learned last week of newly analysed information that showed that senior UAE government officials discussed the planned hacks on May 23, the day before they occurred.

*

The officials said it was unclear if the UAE hacked the websites or paid for them to be carried out, the newspaper reported. The Post did not identify the intelligence officials it spoke to for the report.

*

UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef al-Otaiba denied the report in a statement, saying it was "false".

16 July 2017

11:10pm -- French FM urges 'de-escalation' in Gulf crisis

*

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called on Sunday for a "de-escalation" in the row between Qatar and four Arab countries, as he held talks in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, a mediator in the crisis.

*

"It would be preferable if the parties could engage in a process of de-escalation, one that is indispensable so that negotiations can take place in a constructive atmosphere," Le Drian said in Abu Dhabi.

*

He held talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan, who is also deputy commander in chief of the UAE's armed forces.

*

Abu Dhabi was the last step in a tour of four Gulf nations that began on Saturday and also took Le Drian to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Le Drian's visit is part of his effort to resolve the dispute between Qatar and its neighbours which is mediated by Kuwait.

4:15pm -- Expert: Qatar should join Rome Statute to protect itself

*

Toby Kidman, an expert in international law on war crimes, human rights, terrorism and extradition, said on Saturday that there was no legal basis for the blockade imposed on Qatar by Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states and for the list of demands presented by these countries.

*

Speaking to the Qatari daily Al-Sharq, Kidman said that under the international law the measure was illegal and they were purely punitive.

*

He said that the next legal step that must be taken by Qatar during the crisis was to join Rome Statute system and the International Criminal Court as a mean to protect itself.

*

Kidman said that the legal consequences might be stark and the situation might end in the UN Security Council.

11am -- French FM arrives in Kuwait

*

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has arrived in Kuwait as he continues his efforts to end the Gulf crisis.

*

Le Drian was in Doha and Saudi Arabia on Saturday and is expected to travel to the United Arab Emirates later on Sunday.

"We look for everyone's determined commitment against terrorism, its support and financing. In this perspective, it is important that GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries should be united, to remain a rampart against instability," Le Drian said.

*

Jubeir said Saudi Arabia would present Le Drian with "comprehensive dossiers of the negative acts committed by Qatar over years", adding that a similar file was given to US State Secretary Rex Tillerson.

Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, the chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), on Saturday met in New York City with Assistant UN Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour.

*

According to Qatar's state news agency, Al Marri told Gilmour it was necessary to move swiftly to stop the deterioration of human rights violations that Qatar's citizens and its residents were being subjected to.

*

He stressed on the importance of differentiating between humanitarian issues and politics because while the latter can eventually be resolved through diplomacy and mediation, violations of human rights cannot wait for political negotiations.

*

During his visit to the UN headquarters, Al Marri also held separate meetings with head of diplomatic missions of Switzerland, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ghana, Sweden and Liechtenstein, discussing the Gulf crisis and its implications.

* Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian renewed France's commitment to helping reduce tensions in the Gulf, offering full support to Kuwait's mediation efforts and stating that the spat is "not benefitting anyone and is against everyone's interest".

* Speaking alongside his Qatari counterpart in Doha, Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was particularly concerned for separated, binational families, and for students whose education has been disrupted.

* Samer Shehata, associate professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said while few countries have leverage over Saudi Arabia, which is among the nations boycotting Qatar, those offering support "do add momentum to the argument that this should not become the new normal".

11:00am -- France and Qatar's foreign ministers to hold talks in Doha

*

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has arrived in Doha on a two-day Gulf tour aimed at easing tensions in the region.

*

Le Drian is due to meet his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Saturday. He will then travel to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

*

The French foreign ministry said the trip was in line with similar strategies adopted by the US, Britain and Germany regarding the boycott of Qatar by its neighbours.

2:40am -- Trump: We will maintain good relations with Qatar

*

"We are going to have a good relationship with Qatar and not going to have a problem with the military base [in Qatar]," Trump said in an interview with CBN News aired on Wednesday.

*

Qatar is home to the Al-Udeid airbase that holds the forward headquarters of Central Command and hosts around 10,000 American troops.

*

"If we ever had to leave [the base], we'd have 10 countries willing to build us another one. And they'll pay for it."

12:20am -- British navy vessel in Doha for joint exercise

*

The British navy vessel "HMS Middleton" arrived in Doha to participate in a joint naval exercise between Qatar's Emiri Navy and the British Royal Navy in the Qatari territorial waters, according to Qatar's defence ministry.

*

The ministry said the exercise came on the basis of prior agreements between the two sides in the framework of bilateral defence cooperation to support efforts of combating terrorism and smuggling as well as to maintain security and stability in the region.

14 July 2017

9:20pm -- Nasr al-Hariri: Gulf crisis has had no impact on Syria

*

A top Syrian opposition figure on Friday said that the dispute between Qatar and four key Arab countries has had no impact on the "revolution" aimed to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

*

Nasr al-Hariri, the head of the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee, said the disputes between Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have with Qatar amount to "a problem in one family, in one house".

*

He said the Syrian opposition has good ties with all the countries.

*

Speaking to reporters near the end of the latest intra-Syrian peace talks round under UN mediation in Geneva, Al-Hariri said he hoped the disputes "will be resolved soon without any impact on us".

8:15pm -- Trump, Saudi King discuss Qatar dispute

*

The White House said that US President Donald Trump spoke by phone to Saudi King Salman on Friday.

*

The two leaders discussed efforts to resolve the month-long dispute between Qatar and the four Arab states.

According to Qatar's state news agency, they discussed the Gulf crisis and bilateral relations among other topics.

3:35pm -- Ankara, Doha say Turkish base will stay in Qatar

*

Turkey and Qatar on Friday reiterated Ankara would keep a new military base in the Gulf country, rejecting demands from Saudi Arabia and its allies for the facility to be closed.

*

"No country has the right to raise the issue of the Turkish base or the military cooperation between Qatar and Turkey as long as this cooperation respects international law," Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told reporters in Ankara.

*

Speaking after meeting him, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the demands to close the base go against the two countries' sovereignty.

*

"A third country has no right to say something to Qatar or Turkey. Everyone must respect this," he added.

* Qatar's foreign minister says it would be unfair to describe US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's shuttle diplomacy to find a solution as a failure, insisting that the crisis "cannot be solved in a day."

* Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also told reporters in Ankara on Friday that Qatar would continue to work with the United States and Kuwait to end the standoff with its four Arab neighbors.

* Tillerson concluded his mediation efforts Thursday, making no promise of an imminent breakthrough but voicing optimism that Qatar and its neighbours might soon be willing to talk face to face.

* The Qatari minister again denied accusations that his nation provided support to terror groups, accusing the four of failing to provide "single evidence" against his gas-rich nation.

* Turkey has shown support for Qatar during the GCC crisis, stepping in to send troops and food supplies following the blockade.

* Qatar's foreign minister is expected to hold a joint press conference in the morning with Cavusoglu.

3am -- UAE says 'headed for a long estrangement' with Qatar

*

There will be no quick end to the Gulf crisis said the United Arab Emirates' minister of state for foreign affairs on his official Twitter account on Friday.

*

"We are headed for a long estrangement ... we are very far from a political solution involving a change in Qatar's course, and in light of that nothing will change and we have to look for a different format of relations," Anwar Gargash said.

2:05am -- Egyptian coach suspended as row over Qatar reaches football

*

Egyptian coach Hossam el-Badry was fined $10,000 on Thursday by the Confederation of African Football and suspended for one game for refusing to give interviews to Qatar-based beIN Sports network -- owned by Al Jazeera -- and attempting to boycott a news conference.

*

El-Badry -- coach of Egyptian club Al Ahly -- initially refused to attend a news conference following a match on June 20 because of the presence of beIN sports journalists. He did eventually attend, but either put his hand over the beIN microphone while speaking or pushed it away, CAF said.

*

Following a game in Egypt last weekend against Cameroon's Coton Sport, el-Badry and Al Ahly players refused all interviews with beIN. The players also boycotted the news conference.

*

El-Badry's one-game ban was put on hold, provided he is not found guilty of a similar offence during the remainder of the African Champions League.

* In an interview with The Times, Noura al-Kaabi, the UAE minister for the federal national council, said the Emirates sought "fundamental change and restructuring" of Al Jazeera rather than to shut it. She also said that the Saudi-led group was ready to negotiate with Qatar.

6:45pm -- HRW: Isolation of Qatar causing rights abuses

*

Human Rights Watch said the blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies is infringing on the right to free expression, separating families, and interrupting medical care among other rights violations.

*

"Gulf autocrats' political disputes are violating the rights of peaceful Gulf residents who were living their lives and caring for their families," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.

5:55pm -- GCC crisis lingers as Tillerson heads home

*

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has held a second round of talks with the leaders of Qatar on Thursday, but he left for the US without talking to the press.

3:20pm -- Tillerson meets with Qatari emir and foreign minister

*

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has met the Qatari emir and foreign minister for the second time during his four-day visit to the Gulf.

*

According to Qatar News Agency, the meetings discussed the efforts to solve the Gulf crisis.

8am -- Tillerson to make unexpected return to Qatar

*

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to make an unexpected return visit to Doha on Thursday, as he tries to help find a solution to the Gulf crisis.

*

The visit comes a day after he held talks with leaders from the four Arab states blockading Qatar.

*

In his first trip to Doha on Tuesday, Tillerson told reporters that the Qatari government had "very reasonable" views in the dispute.

5:50am -- Bob Corker: Saudi terrorism support 'dwarfs' Qatar's

*

"The amount of support for terrorism by Saudi Arabia dwarfs what Qatar's doing," said Bob Corker, the Chairman of the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday.

*

"I was really disappointed to see what Saudi Arabia did after having a great summit and bringing everybody together," he said -- referring to the Riyadh summit in May attended by US President Donald Trump. "I think this is quite possibly a rookie mistake by a crown prince who I think could be the future for Saudi Arabia," added Corker.

*

Corker made the comments about Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a legislative hearing while addressing the former US ambassador to Israel.

* Corker has the power to block arms sales to GCC countries -- which he has previously threatened to do if the Gulf crisis is not resolved diplomatically.

3am -- Rex Tillerson to travel to Qatar on Thursday

*

The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make an unexpected return visit to Doha on Thursday to meet with senior Qatari officials as he tries to find a solution to the Gulf crisis, according to the state department.

*

It comes after Tillerson held a day of talks with the four Arab states leading a blockade against Doha.

12 July 2017

11:30pm -- UAE accuses Al Jazeera of anti-Semitism, inciting hate

*

In a letter to the UN, the UAE's state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, accused Al Jazeera of having "promoted anti-Semitic violence by broadcasting sermons by the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Yusuf al-Qaradawi".

*

The letter -- published on Wednesday by the UAE National Media Council -- also accused Al Jazeera of "incitement to hostility, violence and discrimination" and lists broadcasting the speeches of slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden as an example.

*

The United Nations has warned that demands on Qatar to close Al Jazeera by the Saudi-led group, which includes the UAE, violate basic freedoms.

04:35pm -- Tillerson holding meetings in Saudi Arabia

*

Foreign ministers of the four Arab countries boycotting Qatar began a meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday, as the US official seeks to find a solution for the Gulf dispute.

*

The meeting brings together foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt with Tillerson in the Saudi Arabian coastal city of Jeddah, DPA news agency quoted the Saudi-owned TV network Al Arabiya as reporting.

*

Tillerson arrived in Jeddah earlier Wednesday and held a meeting with King Salman and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir before the meeting, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

03:40pm -- French foreign minister to visit Gulf countries

*

The French government has announced that Foreign Minister Jean-Yes Le Drian will be visiting Qatar as part of efforts to ease the tension in the Gulf.

*

Reuters reported that Le Drian will also visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates during the trip scheduled on July 15 and 16.

* "Concerned by current tensions that are affecting these countries with whom we have close and friendly ties, we call for a rapid de-escalation that would be in everyone's interest," the French foreign ministry statement said.

Turkey has sent 197 cargo planes, 16 trucks and one ship to Qatar to meet its daily needs since a dispute broke out last month between Qatar and other Gulf states, Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said on Wednesday.

*

At a meeting with Zeybekci in the Turkish capital Ankara, Qatar's economy minister, Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, said Doha's sea and land trade was continuing without disruption despite the blockade by four Arab states.

8:00am -- Tillerson heads to Saudi Arabia to discuss Gulf crisis

*

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is expected to meet Saudi King Salman on Wednesday, before holding talks with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states that have imposed a blockade on Qatar.

Qatar's foreign minister has questioned the timing of the leak of a set of agreements made between Gulf countries between 2013 and 2014 and insisted that his country was abiding by the accords.

*

After CNN on Monday published a set of documents known as the "Riyadh agreements," Qatari officials said the leak aimed to weaken mediation efforts in the region.

*

The documents were published ahead of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's arrival in the Gulf for shuttle diplomacy between Jeddah, Doha and Kuwait City.

*

"These are clear efforts to diminish ... the mediation by Kuwait, and the efforts of the United States to mediate this crisis," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said.

1:20am -- More Turkish troops arrive at military base in Qatar

*

Qatar said on Tuesday more Turkish troops had arrived at a military base in Doha after Ankara fast-tracked legislation last month for more soldiers to be deployed there.

*

Training has been ongoing since June 19. The base in Qatar houses Turkish soldiers under an agreement signed in 2014.

*

"This defence cooperation between Doha and Ankara is part of their common defence vision to support anti-terrorism efforts and maintain security and stability in the region," a statement by Qatar's Armed Forces said.

*

The statement did not give the number of Turkish troops at the base or how many had just joined to bolster the deployment, but said it was the fifth batch of Turkish troops to arrive.

11 July 2017

11:40pm -- Qatar-US terror deal 'insufficient', says Saudi-led group

*

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain said the agreement on combatting terror funding between Qatar and the US was "insufficient".

*

In a joint statement released in their state media, the four Arab states said they would "carefully monitor the seriousness of Qatari authorities" in fighting terrorism financing.

* They also said sanctions on Doha would remain in place until it meets their demands.

9:25pm -- Egypt wants Qatar out of anti-ISIL coalition

*

The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) should kick Qatar out of its operation, the spokesman of Egypt's foreign ministry said during a coalition meeting held in Washington, DC.

*

Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid, who is the head of the Egyptian delegation in the meeting, said it is "unacceptable" for the coalition "to have among its members states that support terrorism, or advocate for it in their media".

*

"The decision by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain to boycott Qatar -a coalition member- is in accordance with that principle," he said in a statement.

*

Qatar hosts the largest US military airbase in the Middle East, Al-Udeid, where more than 11,000 US and coalition forces are deployed. The US-led operation is mostly launched from the Al-Udeid military base.

7:35pm -- Kuwaiti emir expresses 'bitterness' over Gulf crisis

*

Kuwait's ruler has described the rift in the Gulf as unprecedented, but said he intended to push ahead with mediation efforts, state news agency KUNA reported.

*

"His Highness the country's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah ... expressed a feeling of bitterness and has been deeply affected by the unprecedented developments that [our Gulf house] is witnessing," the agency said.

*

He said the positive reaction and support for Kuwait's mediation efforts had strengthened his resolve to deal with the crisis.

4:30pm -- Qatar signs MoU on 'terror financing' with the US

*

The Qatari FM and the US secretary of state say Qatar has signed a memorandum of understanding on combatting and financing "terrorism".

*

Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called the meetings with Rex Tillerson in Doha "very constructive". He called on the countries blockading Qatar to also sign the MoU.

*

Tillerson said the US has one goal: "To drive terrorism off the face of the Earth."

4:20pm -- FMs of boycotting nations to meet in Jeddah

*

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet the foreign ministers of the four countries leading the boycott against Qatar in Jeddah on Wednesday. He will then return to Kuwait before heading back to the US.

2:00pm -- Tillerson calls Qatari position 'reasonable'

*

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday it had "reasonable" views in the month-old diplomatic crisis with Arab neighbours.

*

"I think Qatar has been quite clear in its positions, and I think those have been very reasonable," Tillerson told reporters.

11:55am -- Tillerson arrives in Qatar for talks on GCC crisis

* US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has arrived in Doha for talks with Qatar's emir and foreign minister.

10:00am -- Tillerson due in Qatar to discuss Gulf crisis

*

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is set to hold talks with Qatar's emir and foreign minister in Doha on Tuesday.

*

The US State Department said Tillerson would meet with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at 8:30 GMT.

The Saudi-led bloc has accused Qatar of violating deals it signed in 2013 and 2014 with its Gulf neighbours, which prohibited support for opposition groups in those nations, as well as in Egypt and Yemen.

*

The existence of the agreements has been known, but the content and the documents, which were obtained by CNN, were never made public.

*

The Gulf countries have accused Qatar of not complying with the agreements. "It is without doubt that Qatar did not abide by Riyadh Agreements of 2013-2014, violated it and broke promise," Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain said in a statement.

*

Many of the demands that were recently made to lift the blockade against Qatar were already included in the Riyadh Agreements.

1:30am -- US, UK and Kuwait call on all sides to swiftly end Gulf crisis

*

The United States, United Kingdom, and Kuwait urged all parties "to quickly contain the current crisis and resolve it at the earliest through dialogue," according to a statement reported by the Kuwait state news agency KUNA on Tuesday.

*

The statement came as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and British National Security Advisor Mark Sedwill visited Kuwait, which is acting as a mediator, in order to resolve the crisis.

10 July 2017

11:35pm -- 'An issue that concerns not just us but the whole world'

*

"We are trying to resolve an issue that concerns not just us but the whole world," Kuwait's ruler, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, told US top diplomat Rex Tillerson.

*

US officials said Tillerson does not expect an immediate breakthrough, which they warned could be months away. Rather, they said, he wants to explore possibilities for sparking negotiations.

7:30pm -- US secretary of state lands in Kuwait

* Rex Tillerson has arrived in Kuwait at the start of his four-day visit to the Gulf. He was greeted by the deputy emir, the foreign minister and other officials.

*

Tillerson is set to met Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah this evening as well as the foreign minister and the British national security adviser who is also in Kuwait for consultations on the Gulf crisis.

6:05pm -- Qatari rights committee backs compensation claims

* Qatar's National Human Rights Committee welcomes the establishment of the Compensation Claims Committee that aims to seek compensation for damages and losses resulting from the blockade.

*

The NHRC says it will forward all complaints received from victims to the Compensation Committee.

3:55pm -- Qatar Petroleum, France's Total to launch joint venture

* State-owned Qatar Petroleum and French energy giant Total will formally launch a 25-year joint venture to develop the Al Shaheen oil field, the companies said.

*

The North Oil Company, to be launched on Tuesday, will be made up of a 70 percent stake from QP and a 30 percent stake from Total, which is taking over operations from Maersk Oil. The launch comes amid the worst crisis to hit Qatar, the world's largest exporter of natural gas, in years.

*

The signing of the contract also comes amid reports that Saudi Arabia and the UAE may pressure international companies to either do business with them or with Qatar.

Qatar has $340bn in reserves including holdings of its sovereign wealth fund that could help the Gulf country to weather the isolation by its powerful Arab neighbours, central bank governor Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud Al Thani told CNBC.

*

"This is the credibility of our system, we have enough cash to preserve any...kind of shock," he said.

*

Al Thani said the central bank has $40bn in reserves plus gold, while the Qatar Investment Authority has $300bn in reserves that it could liquidate.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the chairman of Qatar Chamber, said that the unjust siege imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies on Qatar did not affect the country's market as much as it hit the companies of those countries who lost the Qatari market.

*

He said that Qatar was able to immediately secure its needs of all kinds of goods by importing them from alternative countries at the same cost and with better quality.

*

Sheikh Khalifa highlighted the recent launch of direct shipping lines with Salalah and Sohar ports in Oman, Mundra and Nhava Sheva ports in India and the Turkish port of Izmir from which the first ship carrying about 3,000 tons of miscellaneous foodstuffs arrived last week.

2pm -- Qatar to seek compensation for damages from blockade

Qatari Public Prosecutor Ali Al Marri said in a press conference that the government is forming a committee to handle claims made by private companies, public institutions and individuals of damages stemming from the blockade.

Among other topics, the two discussed the Gulf crisis as well as ways to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation between Qatar and the UK, according to Qatar's state news agency.

9:15pm -- UK's foreign secretary arrives in Doha

*

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has arrived in Qatar's capital in an effort to mediate in the Gulf crisis.

*

He was met late on Saturday by Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

9:10pm -- Erdogan criticises anti-Qatar measures

*

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised the sanctions against Qatar at a news conference on Saturday after the G20 meeting in Hamburg.

*

He said that allegations against Qatar are unfair and provocation in the Gulf region should be avoided.

*

Erdogan stressed that the countries involved in the standoff should work towards a reasonable solution of the conflict.

4:20pm -- UK's top diplomat in Kuwait to help mediate in the Gulf crisis

*

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrived in Kuwait on Saturday to support the country's mediation in the Gulf dispute.

*

Johnson planned to meet Kuwait's foreign minister and other senior leaders, following talks on Friday with officials from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, his office said.

*

"The UK strongly supports Kuwait's mediation efforts and the foreign secretary will pay tribute to the work of the Emir of Kuwait," it said in a statement.

*

Johnson's talks in Kuwait would be followed by similar meetings with senior leaders in Qatar later on Saturday.

07 July 2017

11:55pm -- Qatar port operating 'at full capacity' as usual

*

The head of Qatar's main commercial port has said that it is operating "at full capacity" but that it has not seen an increase in traffic after the beginning of the blockade by Saudi Arabia and its allies.

*

Abdulaziz Nasser Al-Yafei, Hamad Port director, said on Friday that the only change was that the Doha-bound ships were transiting through two Omani ports, rather than the Emirati Jebel Ali port -- a regional hub.

10pm -- Qatar rejects Saudi-led group allegations

*

A source at Qatar's foreign ministry said that accusations from the Saudi-led anti-Qatar quartet regarding financing "terrorism" and interference in internal affairs of other countries amount to defamation.

*

"The State of Qatar is an active member committed to combating terrorism and its financing at regional and international levels. The international community attests to that," said the source.

9:15pm -- UNESCO receives complaints from Qatari students in anti-Qatar Gulf states

*

National Human Rights Committee in Qatar has submitted a report to UNESCO detailing the violations committed by educational institutions against Qatari students in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

*

NHRC Chairman Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri said that violations against students included preventing them from taking final exams, withholding certificates of graduation, closing their educational accounts and arbitrarily terminating their registration without giving reasons.

* At least 85 violations against Qatari students were committed in the UAE, 29 violations in Saudi Arabia and 25 in Bahrain, according to the report.

8:45pm -- UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrives in Saudi Arabia

*

Boris Johnson arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday as part of a tour that will also take him to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait in a bid to help ease Gulf tension.

*

"The Foreign Secretary will urge all parties to get behind Kuwait's mediation efforts, which the UK strongly supports, and work towards de-escalation and Gulf unity for the sake of regional stability," the foreign office said in a statement.

*

The statement also said that Johnson will discuss security and bilateral issues with a "particular focus on working together to address the common threats of extremism, radicalisation and terrorism."

7:30pm -- Oman orders trade of Qatari Riyal at official rate

*

The Central Bank of Oman ordered all local commercial banks and exchange companies to trade the Qatari riyal at the official exchange rate.

*

"The Central Bank of Oman will also accept Qatari riyals and provide exchange services if needed," the bank said in a statement.

7:20pm -- 'Qatar is rich enough to face threats of the blockade'

*

Qatar's Finance Minister Ali Sharif al-Emadi said that his country is rich enough to withstand threats of bloackade.

* "We have sovereign wealth funds of 250 per cent of gross domestic product, we have Qatar Central Bank reserves, and we have a ministry of finance strategic reserve," Emadi told The Times newspaper.

1:30pm -- Mattis affirms US-Qatar cooperation: Pentagon

*

James Mattis, the US defence secretary, has reaffirmed the US' strategic security partnership with Qatar, the Pentagon said, amid a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf.

*

Qatar hosts a vital US-led command center at the Al-Udeid air base, where the anti-ISIL coalition launches raids against the armed group.

* Saudi Arabia is leading a four-country blockade of Qatar in the region's biggest crisis in years. Mattis stressed the importance of de-escalating tensions "so all partners in the Gulf region can focus on next steps in meeting common goals," the readout stated.

4:30am -- Tillerson to travel to Kuwait

*

A US State Department statement late on Thursday said that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will be travelling to Kuwait on Monday to discuss efforts to resolve the Gulf crisis.

*

Tillerson would visit Kuwait City following visits to Ukraine and Turkey and is expected to meet Kuwaiti officials who have been trying to mediate.

2am -- Saudi-led group vows 'appropriate' measures

*

In a joint statement released late on Thursday, the Saudi-led group blamed Qatar for "continuing to seek to sabotage and undermine the security and stability in the Gulf region".

*

"All political, economic and legal measures will be taken in the manner and at the time deemed appropriate to preserve the four countries' rights, security and stability," the statement said.

12:45am -- US warns Gulf crisis could last for months

*

The US State Department warned that the Gulf crisis could "possibly even intensify", Heather Nauert, spokeswoman for the state department, said on Thursday.

*

"We remain very concerned about that ongoing situation between Qatar and GCC countries."

Qatar's Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of Defense James Mattis on Thursday.

*

Attiyah discussed the Gulf crisis with Mattis and reiterated Qatar's backing for the efforts of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah to reach a resolution of the dispute through constructive dialogue, according to Qatar's state news agency.

*

He also expressed Qatar's appreciation for the US supportive stance for regional stability, stressing the depth of cooperation between the two countries in terms of combating and rejecting terrorism and violent extremism.

The foreign ministry of Egypt said Shoukry reiterated his country's rejection of Qatar's "support of terrorism" -- the allegation that Doha denies.

10:10pm -- US warns Qatar crisis could last for months

*

The US state department has warned that the Gulf crisis between Qatar and its neighbors is at an impasse and could potentially drag on for weeks or even months.

*

The United States believes the crisis could "possibly even intensify" said on Thursday Heather Nauert, the spokeswoman for the state department.

*

Nauert did not specify what type of escalation the US fears. But she said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson remains in close contact with the countries involved.

*

The US is praising Kuwait for trying to mediate a resolution, she said.

10pm -- Tunisia's former leader: Anti-Qatar bloc isolated itself

*

Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has said he believed that besieging Qatar is the last weapon at the disposal of regimes that have been trying for years to limit Qatar's role and prevent it from being a political player.

*

In an interview with Qatari daily Al Sharq published on Thursday, Marzouki said those who wanted to isolate Qatar were exposed and have themselves become isolated.

*

Marzouki said Qatar is on the right side and the whole world supports it and trusts its ability to withstand the crisis, stressing that the Arab peoples sympathise with Qatar and the vast majority of countries, particularly African ones, are on Qatar's side.

*

He said the battle against Qatar won't be the last, noting that other battles are "on the horizon and no one knows what third or fourth siege will hit any country" where a new Arab political regime rises.

Saudi Arabia, which is leading a four-country blockade of Gulf neighbour Qatar, on Thursday accused Doha of being behind over 23,000 Twitter accounts it blames for trying to stoke dissent in Saudi Arabia.

*

"We found over 23,000 Twitter accounts driven by Qatar, some of them linked to accounts calling for 'revolution' in Saudi Arabia," Information Minister Awwad Saleh al-Awwad told AFP news agency during a visit to Paris.

4:53pm -- World-beating wealth props up Qatar against sanctions

*

A month after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic, trade and transport ties with Qatar, accusing it of backing terrorism, it is suffering from isolation but is nowhere near an economic crisis, the Reuters news agency reports.

*

The alliance against it, meanwhile, may not have options to inflict further damage.

*

As the world's top liquefied natural gas exporter, Qatar is so rich -- at $127,660, its gross domestic product per capita in purchasing power terms is the highest of any country, according to the International Monetary Fund -- it can deploy money to counter almost any type of sanction.

*

In the past month, it has arranged new shipping routes to offset the closure of its border with Saudi Arabia, deposited billions of dollars of state money in local banks to shore them up, and drawn the interest of some of the West's biggest energy firms by announcing a plan to raise its LNG output 30 percent.

*

The success of these initiatives suggests Qatar could weather months or years of the current sanctions if it has the political will to do so -- and that further sanctions being contemplated by the alliance may not prove decisive.

Three of the West's biggest energy corporations are lobbying Qatar to take part in a huge expansion of its gas production, handing Doha an unintended but timely boost in its dispute with Gulf Arab neighbours.

*

The chief executives of ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell and France's Total all met Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha before it announced a plan on Tuesday to raise output of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 30 percent.

*

Company and industry sources told Reuters news agency that the CEOs had expressed interest in helping Qatar with its ambition to produce 100 million tonnes of LNG annually -- equivalent to a third of current global supplies -- in the next five to seven years.

*

Spokespeople from all three firms declined comment. However, a top executive from one energy major looking into expanding in Qatar said the huge business opportunity was worth the considerable political risk.

2:30pm -- UN undersecretary Jeffrey Feltman in Doha

*

Qatar's minister of state for foreign affairs, Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, met with the United Nations undersecretary general Jeffrey Feltman in Doha.

*

During the meeting, Feltman expressed the UN's concern about the continuation of the Gulf crisis. He also stressed UN support of the Kuwaiti mediation efforts to solve the crisis.

10:20am -- Germany to help clear up Qatar accusations

*

Germany's foreign minister says his country's intelligence service will participate in efforts to clear up accusations by Arab neighbours that Qatar supports "terror groups".

*

Gabriel told Deutschlandfunk radio Thursday there was an agreement for Qatar to "open all its books" to Germany's intelligence service "if we have questions about certain people or structures".

*

The minister said he no longer sees the risk of a military escalation in the standoff despite an angry reaction on Wednesday from the four Arab nations to Qatar's response to their demands. Gabriel said that, while the reaction sounded harsh, many demands were no longer mentioned.

There are limited choices for the four countries that are blockading Qatar as the military option appears to be off the table and diplomatic pressure on Qatar will split the Gulf Cooperation Council, he says.

05 July 2017

7:45pm -- Turkey's Erdogan underlines support for Qatar

*

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has underlined his country's support for Qatar and its anger at the demand for the closure of a Turkish military base in Doha. He said the demand shows "a lack of respect toward us and Qatar".

*

Erdogan told the German weekly Die Zeit on Wednesday that "what is being done with Qatar runs counter to international law".

6:15pm -- Saudi-led bloc voices regret over Qatari reply to demands

*

Four Arab states imposing a partial blockade against Qatar have voiced "regret" over Doha's "negative reply" to their demands, according to a joint statement.

*

The statement was issued after the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain met in Cairo.

*

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a joint press conference that further steps against Qatar will be taken at the appropriate time in line with the international law.

*

He added that economic boycott against Qatar will remain until the country changes its policies for the better.

*

The minister also said he hoped that Turkey remained neutral in the crisis, while he called Iran "the biggest supporter of terrorism".

6:15pm -- Trump calls Egypt's Sisi over Gulf crisis

*

US President Donald Trump has called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to discuss the ongoing dispute between Qatar and its Arab neighbours, according to the White House.

*

Trump urged Egypt and other countries that imposed a blockade on Qatar "to negotiate constructively to resolve the dispute".

* Trump "reiterated the need for all countries to follow through on their commitments at the Riyadh Summit to stop terrorist financing and discredit extremist ideology", the statement said.

The foreign minister lauded Germany's support of Kuwait's mediation in resolving the regional crisis. For his part Gabriel reiterated his country's support of Kuwait, while urging restraint in order to reach a solution that satisfies all parties.

3:05pm -- Qatar FM calls for dialogue to resolve Gulf Crisis

*

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's foreign minister, said his country is going to do "whatever it takes to protect our people", even as he urges more dialogue to resolve the crisis.

*

Sheikh Mohammed said that whatever Saudi Arabia and its allies take against Qatar should be based in international law.

3:55am -- Saudi-led group confirms receiving Qatar's response

*

"The four countries have received the Qatari response via Kuwait before the end of the additional deadline, which came at the request of HH Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait," said Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt in a joint statement on Wednesday.

*

"Qatar will receive a reply in due time," added the statement, which was reported by the Saudi News Agency.

1:05am -- Arab intelligence chiefs meet in Cairo

*

Heads of intelligence from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain held a meeting in Cairo on Tuesday, Egyptian state news agency MENA said.

*

MENA, citing "informed sources", did not provide details of the meeting, which took place one day before foreign ministers from the four countries were due to meet to discuss the Gulf dispute.

When asked about Jubeir's visit, Alpha Conde, the AU chairperson, insisted the Saudi diplomat's trip was not an attempt to shore up support for a Saudi-led embargo against Qatar.

*

"No, he didn't come here to discuss the crisis in the GCC," Conde said, using an acronym for the Gulf Cooperation Council. "He came to discuss cooperation because Africa is against financing terrorism. We want to eradicate all sorts of terrorism. This is why we said we will cooperate with Kuwait in mediating this [Gulf] crisis."

04 July 2017

11:02pm -- Qatar FM: List of demands unrealistic and not actionable

*

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Qatar's foreign minister, said "the fight against terrorism" is "a top priority" for his country.

*

"It is an issue of national security, not only to the state of Qatar but to the entire region," he told reporters in Qatar's capital, Doha, after a meeting with Sigmar Gabriel, his German counterpart.

*

"However, the unjust siege imposed by the other states under the pretext of combating terrorism is totally false and fabricated," he added

*

The Qatari diplomat also said that the demands put to Doha by Saudi Arabia and its allies were impossible to meet.

*

"The list is unrealistic and is not actionable," he said. "It's not about terrorism, it's talking about shutting down the freedom of speech."

8:20pm -- Gabriel: Qatar's sovereignty must be respected

*

The foreign minister of Germany praised Qatar's "restraint" in responding to a blockade imposed by Arab states amid the worst regional diplomatic crisis in years.

*

"There are boundaries that you should not cross, that the sovereignty of each of country and the respect of this national sovereignty has to be there," Sigmar Gabriel told reporters in the Qatari capital, Doha, after a meeting with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

*

"It has to be a basic condition and when that is there, even the most difficult questions can be talked about," added Gabriel, concluding a tour of the Gulf region, which also included stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Aran Emirates.

5:10pm -- German FM in Qatar for Gulf crisis talks

*

Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's foreign minister, is visiting Qatar as part of a Gulf tour to resolve the regional diplomatic crisis.

*

He is talking to journalists along with his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Qatar's capital, Doha. Here are some excerpts from the press conference.

*

German FM: Gulf disunity could weaken entire region

*

German FM: Sovereignty of all nations needs to be respected

*

German FM: Best solution to Gulf crisis is deal to end support for armed groups

* German FM: Would be good if other Gulf states accepted the invitation to dialogue. Conflicts like this can only be resolved at the negotiating table

*

German FM: There are plenty of ways to prevent the crisis escalating

*

Qatar FM: We are fully prepared to engage in dialogue and examine grievances

*

Qatar FM: Enough with the smear campaign and false accusations

12:30pm -- UAE says it is still waiting on Qatar response to demands

*

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed Al Nahayan said that the Arab countries blockading Qatar were still waiting for a response to their demands via mediator Kuwait.

*

"I think it is premature to talk about extra sanctions ... this depends on what we will hear from our brothers in Kuwait," the foreign minister said at a press conference with his German counterpart in Abu Dhabi.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the entire Gulf region has the opportunity to strengthen the fight against "terrorism funding".

*

Gabriel is meeting officials in Abu Dhabi, before travelling to Doha to meet Qatar's foreign minister later on Tuesday.

11:15am -- Qatar Petroleum CEO: Company 'will not be affected' by crisis

*

The CEO of state-run Qatar Petroleum has said the company "will not be affected by the siege".

*

Saad al-Kaabi was speaking at a press conference on Tuesday where he announced the company would be increasing its natural gas output by 30 percent by 2024.

7:00am -- UK's May calls for 'de-escalation' of GCC crisis in call with Saudi crown prince

*

In a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, British Prime Minister Theresa May urged "all sides" of the ongoing crisis to "take urgent steps to de-escalate the situation and restore [GCC] unity", her office said in a statement on Monday.

*

The statement also said that the "UK remains committed to supporting this process."

03 July 2017

10:46pm -- Emir of Qatar speaks to Macron, to visit France in late summer

* France's President Emmanuel Macron has held a phone conversation with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss the situation in the Gulf.

* "During this telephone exchange, the emir said that in view of the situation, he expected to come to France at the end of summer," a statement by Macron's office said.

*

The two leaders stressed the need to resolve the Gulf crisis through dialogue and diplomatic means, as well as back the mediation efforts of Kuwait, Qatar News Agency said in a statement.

8:55pm -- Saudi FM: Hope for 'positive response' from Qatar

*

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said that he hopes Qatar will respond positively to a list of demands put forth by his country and other Arab states.

*

"We hope for a positive response to be able to resolve the crisis," he said from the Saudi city of Jeddah during a press conference with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel.

*

Jubeir also said that Qatar's response will be "examined with precision".

*

The talks between the two foreign ministers focused on "the necessity of putting an end to the support for terrorism, extremism, and calls for hate and interference in the affairs of others", Jubeir said.

8:15pm -- German FM: Arab states not questioning Qatar's sovereignty

*

Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's foreign minister, said he did not have the impression that the Arab states that have cut ties with Doha were questioning the sovereignty of Qatar.

*

He was speaking at a joint press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in the Saudi city of Jeddah, during a tour of the Gulf region.

* Gabriel said that the best way to solve the stand-off between Qatar and its Arab neighbours would be an agreement across the region to prevent the financing of "terrorism".

5:54pm -- Turkey: Linking Qatar base with Gulf crisis is wrong

*

Numan Kurtulmus, Turkey's deputy prime minister, says the ongoing crisis in the Gulf has nothing to do with the Turkish military base in Qatar.

*

"Turkey's military base in Qatar is not just for Qatar's security, but for the security of the whole [Gulf] area. Turkey has a base there as part of the area's safety. The presence of Turkish soldiers will remain," he told reporters following a cabinet meeting in the capital, Ankara.

*

"Linking the [Gulf] crisis with the Turkish base is wrong. The tension and dispute between the Gulf countries is completely irrelevant [to the base]."

4:14pm -- AU chair calls for peaceful resolution of Gulf crisis

*

Alpha Conde, the chairperson of the African Union and president of Guinea, has called for a peaceful end of the Gulf diplomatic dispute.

*

Conde was speaking at the opening of the 29th African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital, Adis Ababa.

*

He also said Africans must have one voice about the crisis.

12:00pm -- Qatar hosted Hamas and Taliban delegations at the 'request' of the US

*

Former CIA director and retired general David Petraeus has said Qatar hosted delegations from both Hamas and the Taliban at the "request" of the US.

*

"Our partners should remember that Qatar -- at our request -- welcomed delegations from the Taliban and Hamas, and that Qatar is now home to our military headquarters for our operations throughout the Middle East," Petraeus told French newspaper Journal du Dimanche.

11:00am -- Qatar FM arrives in Kuwait to hand over response to list of demands

*

Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has arrived in Kuwait to hand over the state's response to the 13 demands from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE.

*

The response will be the focus of a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday of foreign ministers from the four countries that have cut ties with Qatar.

6:10am -- Trump speaks to Gulf leaders, urges 'unity'

*

US President Donald Trump spoke separately to Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on Sunday to discuss his "concerns about the ongoing dispute" between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours.

*

Trump also underscored that unity in the region is critical to accomplishing the Riyadh Summit's goals of defeating "terrorism" and promoting regional stability, the White House said.

4:55am -- Trump calls Qatar's Emir to discuss crisis

*

US President Donald Trump rang the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Sunday night, reported the Qatar News Agency (QNA). The phone call dealt with the latest developments of the GCC crisis and its implications in the region.

*

The call also reviewed the American position, as well as international stances regarding the crisis, which call for dialogue and diplomacy in order to maintain the security and stability of the region, reported the QNA.

*

The two sides also stressed the importance of continuing their efforts and support to regional and international efforts for combatting "terrorism" and "extremism" in all its forms, regardless of its source or motives.

*

The two sides also reviewed the strategic bilateral ties between the two nations and the means to enhance and develop them.

4:03am -- Germany urges 'serious dialogue' to resolve Qatar crisis

*

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who on Monday starts a tour of several Arab states, called for "serious dialogue" to end the Gulf crisis.

*

"We are worried that the distrust and the disunity could weaken all the parties concerned as well as the entire peninsula," said Gabriel, who will visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

*

Gabriel called for a "serious dialogue between the parties" to resolve the crisis, adding that while Berlin was "not taking sides, the conflict... affects both us and our interests."

Saudi Arabia and three allies boycotting Qatar have agreed to a request by Kuwait to extend by 48 hours Sunday's deadline for Doha to comply to a set of demands, according to a joint statement on Saudi state news agency SPA.

*

Kuwait had received a response by Qatar to list of 13 demands imposed on it by a Saudi-led bloc of Arab countries, state news agency KUNA said on Monday.

*

After more than two weeks, the four countries gave Doha a 10-day ultimatum, which expired on Sunday night, to comply with a 13-point demand list in exchange for the end of the anti-Qatar measures.

2:30am -- Kuwait seeks extension of deadline for demands on Qatar

*

Kuwait has received a response by Qatar to list of 13 demands imposed on it by a Saudi-led bloc of Arab countries, state news agency KUNA said on Monday, but has asked those countries to extend a deadline for compliance by forty-eight more hours.

*

Without stating whether Qatar had rejected the ultimatum as was widely expected, KUNA said Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah asked Saudi Arabia and three other countries that have boycotted Qatar to grant it an extension. Kuwait is mediating in the crisis.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain will meet in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the Gulf diplomatic crisis.

*

"At the invitation of Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, there will be a quartet meeting of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in Cairo on Wednesday July 5 to follow up on the developing situation regarding relations with Qatar," Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement.

*

The four Arab countries cut diplomatic and travel ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of supporting "terrorism" and being an ally of regional rival Iran, charges that Doha denies.